(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165CX-2a, Jacob Krick OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$528 MS63 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Fuld 165CX-2a — store card of Jacob Krick, Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. With 3 known varieties, Jacob Krick produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165CX-2a) is common. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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, Jacob Krick was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 165CX-2a