(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165DL-3a, W.C. McClenahan & Co. OH

Coin Details

Description

W.C. McClenahan & Co., based in Cincinnati, Ohio, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Cincinnati was the largest inland city in antebellum America and a critical supply center for the Union Army, driving Ohio to produce more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state. W.C. McClenahan & Co. issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 165DL-3a) is common for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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 5 cataloged varieties, W.C. McClenahan & Co. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DL-3a