1860 Token F-165DEa-1e White Metal PE J.O. Loewe OH

Coin Details

Description

This white metal Civil War store card, cataloged as Fuld 165DE-a/1e, was issued by J.O. Loewe of Ohio. The Fuld catalog number identifies the specific die combination: obverse die 165DE paired with reverse die 1e, with the state prefix indicating Ohio origin. Civil War store cards were privately issued tokens that served dual purposes during 1861-1864 — advertising the issuing merchant while providing a medium of exchange when federal coinage disappeared from circulation due to hoarding. The white metal composition (a tin-based alloy) was one of several metals used for these tokens alongside copper, brass, and occasionally nickel or lead. Ohio was one of the most prolific states for Civil War token production, with hundreds of merchants across the state issuing store cards to maintain local commerce during the coinage crisis.

Rarity Notes

White metal, Fuld 165DE-a/1e. Ohio Civil War store card. White metal strikings are generally scarcer than copper.

Cross References

Fuld 165DE-a/1e; PCGS #694576; J.O. Loewe, Ohio