(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-460G-2d, J.C. Hereth IN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,880 MS65 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Store card of J.C. Hereth in Indianapolis, Indiana, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. As Indiana's capital and a major railroad hub, Indianapolis was the center of the state's Civil War token production, with merchants using tokens as practical emergency currency. J.C. Hereth issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 460G-2d) is somewhat scarce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. 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 copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 5 cataloged varieties, J.C. Hereth was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460G-2d