(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-165K-11d, John Pauer OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from John Pauer, a Cincinnati, Ohio business. 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. The 14 cataloged varieties for John Pauer indicate a notable level of token production. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 165K-11d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 14 cataloged varieties, John Pauer was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165K-11d