(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-10A-1B, IN

Coin Details

Description

Wolfe & Sherman, based in Alexandria, 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. Wolfe & Sherman issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 10A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, Wolfe & Sherman was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 10A-1B