(No Date) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-855A-2d, E.C. Saylor OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from E.C. Saylor, a Tippecanoe, Ohio business. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 4 known varieties, E.C. Saylor produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 855A-2d) is somewhat scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 4 cataloged varieties, E.C. Saylor was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 855A-2d