(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-165AP-8i, E. Fiedler's OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$47 XF45 09-22-2016 Heritage Auctions

Description

E. Fielder's of Cincinnati issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Cincinnati was the largest inland city in antebellum America and a critical supply center for the Union Army, driving Ohio to produce more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state. The 13 cataloged varieties for E. Fielder's indicate a notable level of token production. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 165AP-8i) is scarce for this merchant. 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. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 13 cataloged varieties, E. Fielder's was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AP-8i