(No Date) Brass Civil War Store Card F-430A-1b, Barry & M'Dannel TN

Coin Details

Description

Barry & M'Dannel, a Knoxville merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Tennessee was divided during the Civil War. Nashville fell to Union forces in 1862, and merchants in Union-controlled areas issued tokens as emergency small change. Barry & M'Dannel issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 430A-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 5 cataloged varieties, Barry & M'Dannel was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 430A-1b