(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-160B-1A, IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Hiatt & Showalter of Cadiz, Indiana. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. Hiatt & Showalter issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 160B-1A) is common. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 6 cataloged varieties, Hiatt & Showalter was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 160B-1A