(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165BT-10I, OH

Coin Details

Description

B. Hempelman, a Cincinnati merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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 19 cataloged varieties for B. Hempelman indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 165BT-10I) is scarce. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. 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 19 cataloged varieties, B. Hempelman was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165BT-10I