(1861-65) Civil War Store Card F-165FXa-3a, Steamer Lancaster OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,111 MS65BN 10-10-2023 eBay

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Steamer Lancaster in Ohio. 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. Steamer Lancaster issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 165FXa-3a) is common among the known varieties. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 9 cataloged varieties, Steamer Lancaster was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FXa-3a