The coin, which can be used for those who can’t decide between the two presidential candidates and may prefer leaving their decision to a coin toss, was designed as a marketing piece, according to Marvin Cunningham, the company’s president.
While driving to work on Interstate 75 one morning, Cunningham spotted an advertisement for one candidate that reminded him of the coins created by Long-Stanton founder John Stanton during the contentious campaigns of 1860 presidential candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.
Stanton used another company to provide illustrations, create a stamping die and mint the campaign coins for both Lincoln and Douglas, who distributed the coins to ask voters for their support.
“My initial idea was ‘What if we made two of these coins and sent them to our customers as an homage to what we used to do?’” Cunningham said. “But Tom Kachovec, our COO, said … ‘What if you put them both on there and flip it?’”
Once the Clinton-Trump coin was created, Long-Stanton worked up promotional material to accompany it.
“The candidates back then traded so many political barbs and accusations through their eight debates that it became a difficult decision for the voters to fully know who stood for what on the issues of the day. Sound familiar?” the company said via the brochure. “Hopefully, our ‘Indecision 2016’ coin will help you enjoy making your decision. Or indecision. Sometimes it really does feel like it comes down to just a flip of a coin.”
Long-Stanton created 1,000 of the coins, distributing approximately 400 of them to clients. It also started selling the brass coin on July 15 via Amazon for $9.95. Franklin Street Coin Company at 10855 Reading Road in Sharonville snapped up 50 of the coins from Long-Stanton and has made them available for retail purchase at the store.
A sixth-generation family business, Long-Stanton was founded in Cincinnati in 1862 as a private mint, manufacturing private currency, political tokens and uniform buttons for both sides during the Civil War.
In 1977, the company moved to 9388 Sutton Place in West Chester Twp. and in 2009 was named Cincinnati's Family Business of the Decade by the University of Cincinnati's Goering Center.
The metal stamper and fabricator traditionally has had little to do with high-profile products. Instead it makes components used in everything from airplane brakes to gasoline pumps. It also made parts for the Kenner Easy-Bake Oven, which made its debut in 1963.
“Over the years the industries that we have been active in have changed many times, and today we are a diversified manufacturing company serving markets such as aerospace, medical, electrical equipment, fluid containment, conveyors and air compressors,” Cunningham said. “While our company is not a household name, almost everyone in the U.S. interacts with our products on a daily basis.
“When you pump gas, fly in a plane, visit a hospital, use a soda fountain, sit in a classroom, and receive a package you bought online, the parts that we make help you do these tasks easier, safer and more efficiently.”
For more information on the "Indecision 2016" coin, visit www.Indecision2016coin.com.
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