(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-395A-1i, Jas. Lyon IN
Strike Type
Coin Details
Description
Store card of Jas. Lyon in Hartford, Indiana, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Jas. Lyon issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 395A-1i) is scarce for this merchant. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.
Rarity Notes
Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 6 cataloged varieties, Jas. Lyon was a minor token issuer.
Cross References
Fuld 395A-1i
External References
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