(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165FC-2a, John Sacksteder OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of John Sacksteder in Cincinnati, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. With 4 known varieties, John Sacksteder produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165FC-2a) 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. 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-2a