(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-165E-4i, Gruhlers OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$576 MS65 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Gruhlers of Cincinnati, Ohio. 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 10 cataloged varieties for Gruhlers indicate a notable level of token production. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 165E-4i) is scarce for this merchant. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 10 cataloged varieties, Gruhlers was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165E-4i