(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-250A-1b, A. Jenks IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from A. Jenks, a Dublin, Indiana business. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. A. Jenks issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 250A-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, A. Jenks was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 250A-1b