(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-630B-3b, B. Holcomb IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by B. Holcomb of Mishawaka, Indiana. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. With 4 known varieties, B. Holcomb produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 630B-3b) is common to somewhat scarce. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 4 cataloged varieties, B. Holcomb was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630B-3b