No Date Token F-600G-1b Brass PE Western Foundry TN

Coin Details

Description

This undated Civil War era store card, cataloged as Fuld 600G-1b, is a brass patriotic edition token issued by Western Foundry of Tennessee. Western Foundry was an industrial enterprise that produced iron castings and metalwork, making their participation in Civil War token issuance particularly fitting given their familiarity with metalworking. The foundry's token circulated as an emergency cent substitute during the coin shortage that gripped the nation from 1862 onward, when public uncertainty about the war's outcome led to widespread hoarding of gold, silver, and eventually copper coins. Regional token collecting focuses on pieces from specific states, cities, or geographic areas, creating specialized knowledge about local commercial history that enriches broader numismatic understanding. The Fuld 600G die combination pairs the Western Foundry merchant die with a standard patriotic reverse, creating a token that served both commercial and patriotic purposes during the conflict.

Rarity Notes

Civil War store card, Fuld 600G-1b. Brass patriotic edition. Tennessee industrial firm. Scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #649630; Fuld 600G-1b; Western Foundry, TN