(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-770B-4d, M. Osborn's IN

Coin Details

Description

Store card of M. Osborn in Plainfield, 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. M. Osborn issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 770B-4d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. 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 8 cataloged varieties, M. Osborn was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 770B-4d