(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-805B-1a, Thos. Mickey OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 805B-1a — store card of Thos. Mickey, Shelby, 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. With 3 known varieties, Thos. Mickey produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 805B-1a) is common. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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 3 cataloged varieties, Thos. Mickey was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 805B-1a