(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-995E-2a, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Alex R. Grant, located in Zanesville, Ohio. Ohio produced more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state, driven by Cincinnati's role as the largest inland city and a Union Army supply hub. With 3 known varieties, Alex R. Grant produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 995E-2a) is common for this merchant. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 3 cataloged varieties, Alex R. Grant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 995E-2a