(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-460D-1A, IN

Coin Details

Description

G.W. Geisendorf & Co. of Indiana issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 2 known varieties, G.W. Geisendorf & Co. produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 460D-1A) is common among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 2 cataloged varieties, G.W. Geisendorf & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 460D-1A