(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-260B-2a, J. Davenport & Son IN

Coin Details

Description

Davenport & Son of Elkhart issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 2 known varieties, Davenport & Son produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 260B-2a) is common. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 2 cataloged varieties, Davenport & Son was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 260B-2a