(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-190B-3a, Ira W. Bowen IN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Ira W. Bowen of Corunna, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 190B-3a. Indiana was an important agricultural and manufacturing state, with merchants producing store cards as emergency currency when federal coinage was hoarded. Ira W. Bowen issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 190B-3a) is common. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 5 cataloged varieties, Ira W. Bowen was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 190B-3a