(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-370A-4I, IN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from E. & L. Small of Hagerstown, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 370A-4I. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. E. & L. Small issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 370A-4I) is scarce for this merchant. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 9 cataloged varieties, E. & L. Small was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 370A-4I