(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-460U-3A, 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 copper, this die combination (Fuld 460U-3A) is common. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes.

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 7 cataloged varieties, Mrs. A. Thomson & Son was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460U-3A