(No Date) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-185A-3d, Jacob Groyen IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Jacob Groyen in Indiana. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Jacob Groyen issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 185A-3d) is 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. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 5 cataloged varieties, Jacob Groyen was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 185A-3d