(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-460D-2a, G.W. Geisendorf & Co. IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of G.W. Geisendorf & Co. in Indiana. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. With 2 known varieties, G.W. Geisendorf & Co. produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 460D-2a) is common among the known varieties. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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 2 cataloged varieties, G.W. Geisendorf & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 460D-2a