(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-970A-2I, IN

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by J.G. Williams & Co., operating in Wheeling, Indiana. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 4 known varieties, J.G. Williams & Co. produced a modest number of token types. This zinc striking (Fuld 970A-2I) is scarce among the known varieties. 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. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 4 cataloged varieties, J.G. Williams & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 970A-2I