(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-65B-3a, P. Brady OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$411 MS65BN 06-29-2012 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of P. Brady, located in Bellevue, 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. The 11 cataloged varieties for P. Brady indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 65B-3a) is common. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 11 cataloged varieties, P. Brady was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 65B-3a