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

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Mrs. A. Thomson & Son, operating in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. Mrs. A. Thomson & Son issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 460U-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. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. 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 7 cataloged varieties, Mrs. A. Thomson & Son was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460U-1B