(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165FW-6d, H. Stalkamp OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of H. Stalkamp in Cincinnati, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. H. Stalkamp issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 165FW-6d) is common for this merchant. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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, H. Stalkamp was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FW-6d