Philadelphia NC-PA-C-1a2 R-8 V. N. UNC R. Flanagan copper preferable to paper

  
Circa 1858 Store Card Token for R. Flanagan's Punch in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fuld NC-PA-C-1a2 (copper) R-8 Very Nice UNC 2mm planchet thickness, formerly PA750K-1a2.

Prior to the publication of the 3rd edition store card book, this pre-Civil War merchant token was listed as a Civil War store card. It was actually struck around 1858. Unlike most merchant tokens produced in the 1850's, the style of this token is consistent with Civil War tokens issued a few years later. It expresses a sentiment that "pure copper is preferable to paper" and this was also true during the Civil War.

This is an attractive uncirculated specimen struck on a copper planchet that is a little thicker than the typical Civil War token.