(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165DV-4I, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from J.T. Moore, a Cincinnati, Ohio business. 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 13 cataloged varieties for J.T. Moore indicate a notable level of token production. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 165DV-4I) is scarce for this merchant. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. 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 13 cataloged varieties, J.T. Moore was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DV-4I