(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-140A-4a, H. Linck IN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$300 MS64BN 06-17-2024 eBay

Description

Store card of H. Linck in Brookville, Indiana, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. The 10 cataloged varieties for H. Linck indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 140A-4a) is common. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

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 10 cataloged varieties, H. Linck was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 140A-4a