(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-175G-1I, OH

Coin Details

Description

D.W. Gage, a Cleveland merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Cleveland's position on Lake Erie made it a vital shipping hub for wartime goods, and its merchants participated actively in the Civil War token phenomenon. D.W. Gage issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 175G-1I) is scarce for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. 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. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 175G-1I