(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-395A-1B, IN

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Jas. Lyon, operating in Hartford, Indiana. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Jas. Lyon issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 395A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. The brass composition gives this token a warm golden tone that contrasts with the reddish-brown of copper strikings.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, Jas. Lyon was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 395A-1B