(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165AL-7a, L. Eckert OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,350 MS64BN 08-02-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of L. Eckert, located in 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. L. Eckert issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165AL-7a) is common. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. 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 8 cataloged varieties, L. Eckert was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AL-7a