(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-160B-3A, IN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Hiatt & Showalter of Cadiz, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 160B-3A. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Hiatt & Showalter issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 160B-3A) is common among the known varieties. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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-3A