(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-530B-2b, J. Faller & Son IN

Coin Details

Description

Store card of J. Faller & Son in Laporte, Indiana, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. J. Faller & Son issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 530B-2b) is common to somewhat scarce. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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 5 cataloged varieties, J. Faller & Son was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 530B-2b