(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165FO-2a, H.E. Shaw OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of H.E. Shaw in Cincinnati, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. H.E. Shaw issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165FO-2a) is common. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens.

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 5 cataloged varieties, H.E. Shaw was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FO-2a