(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-165AW-8d, Chas. Flach OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Chas. Flach, a Cincinnati, Ohio business. 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. The 13 cataloged varieties for Chas. Flach indicate a notable level of token production. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 165AW-8d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 13 cataloged varieties, Chas. Flach was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AW-8d