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

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Frank Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165FR-4I. 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. Frank Smith issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This zinc striking (Fuld 165FR-4I) is scarce among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 9 cataloged varieties, Frank Smith was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FR-4I