(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-930A-2A, IA

Coin Details

Description

H. & G. Goodhue of Waterloo issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War 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 copper, this die combination (Fuld 930A-2A) is common. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. 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 6 cataloged varieties, H. & G. Goodhue was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 930A-2A