(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-830G-1i, C. Runyon OH

Coin Details

Description

C. Runyon of Springfld issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. C. Runyon issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 830G-1i) is scarce. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 5 cataloged varieties, C. Runyon was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830G-1i