(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-175N-3I, OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from J.P. Sherwood of Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 175N-3I. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. J.P. Sherwood issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 175N-3I) is scarce. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 7 cataloged varieties, J.P. Sherwood was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 175N-3I