(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-500K-1d, Jones & Mosher's IN

Coin Details

Description

Jones & Mosher's, based in Kendallville, Indiana, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. With 3 known varieties, Jones & Mosher's produced a modest number of token types. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 500K-1d) is somewhat 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. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 3 cataloged varieties, Jones & Mosher's was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 500K-1d