(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-770A-4I, IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Johnson & Oursler, located in Plainfield, Indiana. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. The 11 cataloged varieties for Johnson & Oursler indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 770A-4I) is scarce. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. 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 11 cataloged varieties, Johnson & Oursler was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 770A-4I