(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-230B-3I, OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by J. Durst, operating in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton was a prosperous manufacturing city known for its agricultural machinery and paper production. The 11 cataloged varieties for J. Durst indicate a notable level of token production. This zinc striking (Fuld 230B-3I) is scarce among the known varieties. 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. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 11 cataloged varieties, J. Durst was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 230B-3I