(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-930A-1B, IA

Coin Details

Description

H. & G. Goodhue, based in Waterloo, Iowa, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Iowa contributed disproportionately to the war effort relative to its population, with merchants issuing tokens in small numbers reflecting its less urbanized economy. H. & G. Goodhue issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 930A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce 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. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. The brass composition gives this token a warm golden tone that contrasts with the reddish-brown of copper strikings.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 930A-1B