(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-495A-1B, IN

Coin Details

Description

Robt. Cooder, a Jonesboro merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. Robt. Cooder issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 495A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce. 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. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 495A-1B