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

Coin Details

Description

H. & G. Goodhue, a Waterloo merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 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. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 930A-1I) is scarce. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 6 cataloged varieties, H. & G. Goodhue was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 930A-1I