(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-460H-4d, C.L. Holmes IN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,800 MS66 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War-era store card from C.L. Holmes, an Indianapolis, Indiana business. 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. C.L. Holmes issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 460H-4d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 6 cataloged varieties, C.L. Holmes was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460H-4d