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

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Adam Metz of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165DP-8I. Known as the "Queen of the West," Cincinnati served as a major Ohio River commercial hub. Its merchants produced hundreds of store card varieties during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. The 15 cataloged varieties for Adam Metz indicate a notable level of token production. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 165DP-8I) is scarce for this merchant. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. 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 15 cataloged varieties, Adam Metz was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DP-8I