(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-190A-2a, Sam'l. Beck IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Sam'l. Beck, located in Corunna, Indiana. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 3 known varieties, Sam'l. Beck produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 190A-2a) is common. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 3 cataloged varieties, Sam'l. Beck was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 190A-2a