(1862) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165FF-1a, Chr. Schloendorn OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$180 MS64BN 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Chr. Schloendorn of Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. Chr. Schloendorn issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 165FF-1a) is common for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 8 cataloged varieties, Chr. Schloendorn was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FF-1a