(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165FX-5I, OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165FX-5I. 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. With 47 cataloged die varieties, John Stanton was one of the most prolific token issuers in the series. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 165FX-5I) is scarce. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from 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 47 cataloged varieties, John Stanton was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 165FX-5I