(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-975D-1a, James B. Childs OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from James B. Childs of Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 975D-1a. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 3 known varieties, James B. Childs produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 975D-1a) is common. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. 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. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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, James B. Childs was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 975D-1a