(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165DF-8I, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by H. Loewenstein of Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, known as the "Queen of the West," was a bustling Ohio River metropolis and the Union Army's primary supply base in the Western Theater, with a diverse merchant class that produced hundreds of token varieties. With 14 cataloged die varieties, H. Loewenstein was a notable token issuer. This zinc striking of die combination 8 (Fuld 165DF-8I) is scarce among the known varieties for this issuer. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when wartime hoarding of federal coinage created severe small change shortages. Merchants in border states faced particular challenges during the coin shortage, as economic uncertainty and military activity disrupted normal commercial patterns more severely than in the interior. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864, filling a critical gap in everyday commerce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 14 cataloged varieties, H. Loewenstein was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DF-8I