(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-200A-6i, John Grether OH

Coin Details

Description

John Grether of Columbus issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. As Ohio's capital, Columbus saw enormous wartime military activity, and its merchants issued tokens to facilitate commerce amid the acute coin shortage. The 12 cataloged varieties for John Grether indicate a notable level of token production. This zinc striking (Fuld 200A-6i) is scarce among the known varieties. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 12 cataloged varieties, John Grether was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200A-6i