(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-460O-1B, IN

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Pomeroy, Fry & Co. in Indianapolis, Indiana, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Indianapolis served as a major Union military staging area, with Camp Morton housing Confederate prisoners and Governor Morton directing one of the war's most vigorous state efforts. Pomeroy, Fry & Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 460O-1B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 460O-1B