(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-500N-1A, IN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from S.J.M. Loomis of Kendallville, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 500N-1A. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. S.J.M. Loomis issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 500N-1A) is common for this merchant. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 5 cataloged varieties, S.J.M. Loomis was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 500N-1A