(1861-65) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-557A-1i, John Frank OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$560 MS64 06-18-2024 eBay

Description

John Frank of Ohio issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. John Frank issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This zinc striking (Fuld 557A-1i) is scarce among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 5 cataloged varieties, John Frank was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 557A-1i