(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-160B-1i, Hiatt & Showalter IN

Coin Details

Description

Hiatt & Showalter of Cadiz issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Hiatt & Showalter issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 160B-1i) is scarce. 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. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 6 cataloged varieties, Hiatt & Showalter was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 160B-1i