(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165FXa-4a, Steamer Lancaster OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$690 MS65BN 10-14-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

Store card of Steamer Lancaster in Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165FXa-4a) is common. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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-4a