(1861) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-525A-1e, S.H. Zahm PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by S.H. Zahm of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. With 4 known varieties, S.H. Zahm produced a modest number of token types. This white metal striking (Fuld 525A-1e) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 4 cataloged varieties, S.H. Zahm was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 525A-1e