(1863) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-115F-1e, Sam's Inn MA

Coin Details

Description

Sam's Inn, a Boston merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Massachusetts was a center of manufacturing and abolitionist sentiment, with Boston and surrounding cities contributing Civil War tokens as emergency currency. This white metal striking (Fuld 115F-1e) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. White metal (a tin-based alloy) pieces are scarcer than copper and often show significant wear from their soft composition. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 1 cataloged varieties, Sam's Inn was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 115F-1e