(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165FC-1a, John Sacksteder OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$120 MS65BN 12-16-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This Civil War token was issued by John Sacksteder, operating in Cincinnati, Ohio. Known as the "Queen of the West," Cincinnati served as a major Ohio River commercial hub. Its merchants produced hundreds of store card varieties during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 4 known varieties, John Sacksteder produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 165FC-1a) is common for this merchant. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 4 cataloged varieties, John Sacksteder was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 165FC-1a