(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-160G-3a, Rufus Motter OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$225 MS64RB 02-27-2023 eBay

Description

Civil War store card issued by Rufus Motter of Chillicoth, 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. Rufus Motter issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 160G-3a) is common 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. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 6 cataloged varieties, Rufus Motter was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 160G-3a