(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-940A-2B, IN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Gordon & Thurston of Wabash, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 940A-2B. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 2 known varieties, Gordon & Thurston produced a modest number of token types. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 940A-2B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 2 cataloged varieties, Gordon & Thurston was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 940A-2B