(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-995J-2b, OH

Coin Details

Description

C.W. Potwin & Co. of Ohio produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. C.W. Potwin & Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 995J-2b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, C.W. Potwin & Co. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 995J-2b