(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165BX-3I, OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by B. Hintrick & C. Glaser, operating in 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. B. Hintrick & C. Glaser issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 165BX-3I) is scarce for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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 8 cataloged varieties, B. Hintrick & C. Glaser was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165BX-3I