(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-940A-1a, Gordon & Thurston IN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Gordon & Thurston of Wabash, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 940A-1a. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 2 known varieties, Gordon & Thurston produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 940A-1a) is common for this merchant. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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, Gordon & Thurston was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 940A-1a