(1861) Copper Civil War Store Card F-630A-11a, H.D. Higgins IN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$40 XF Details 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Store card of H.D. Higgins in Mishawaka, Indiana, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. H.D. Higgins operated as a jeweler and optician in Mishawaka, Indiana, but he was also a die-sinker who produced dies for numerous Civil War tokens, including a group known as "Indiana Primitives" characterized by their crude, folk-art style. Higgins represents the intersection of merchant and manufacturer in the CW token world. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 630A-11a) is common. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 19 cataloged varieties, H.D. Higgins was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630A-11a