(No Date) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-650A-1d, Saml. Bishop OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 650A-1d — store card of Saml. Bishop, N. Liberty, Ohio. 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, Saml. Bishop produced a modest number of token types. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 650A-1d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. 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. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 3 cataloged varieties, Saml. Bishop was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 650A-1d