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

Coin Details

Description

Mrs. A. Thomson & Son, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. 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. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 460U-1I) is scarce. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 7 cataloged varieties, Mrs. A. Thomson & Son was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460U-1I