(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-580A-1A, IN

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Elliott & Hinshaw, operating in Lynn, Indiana. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Elliott & Hinshaw issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 580A-1A) is common among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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, Elliott & Hinshaw was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 580A-1A