(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165GX-6F, OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,500 AU58 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Jos. Zanone of Ohio issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. Jos. Zanone issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This silver striking (Fuld 165GX-6F) is rare among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. The silver composition indicates a piece produced outside the normal commercial run, as a numismatic item.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 8 cataloged varieties, Jos. Zanone was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GX-6F