(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-120B-2I, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of J.P. Fornshell, located in Camden, Ohio. Ohio produced more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state, driven by Cincinnati's role as the largest inland city and a Union Army supply hub. With 4 known varieties, J.P. Fornshell produced a modest number of token types. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 120B-2I) is scarce. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 4 cataloged varieties, J.P. Fornshell was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 120B-2I