(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-165DJ-17i, Marsh & Miner OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Marsh & Miner, operating in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. Marsh & Miner produced 35 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 165DJ-17i) 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 35 cataloged varieties, Marsh & Miner was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DJ-17i