(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-460O-1a, Pomeroy, Fry & Co. IN

Coin Details

Description

Pomeroy, Fry & Co., an Indianapolis merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Indianapolis served as a major Union military staging area, with Camp Morton housing Confederate prisoners and Governor Morton directing one of the war's most vigorous state efforts. Pomeroy, Fry & Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 460O-1a) 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 Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. 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 6 cataloged varieties, Pomeroy, Fry & Co. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460O-1a