(1863) Civil War Store Card F-580B-3a, J.A. Hinshaw IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by J.A. Hinshaw of Lynn, Indiana. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. J.A. Hinshaw issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 580B-3a) is common for this merchant. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 9 cataloged varieties, J.A. Hinshaw was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 580B-3a