(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-460O-1i, Pomeroy, Fry & Co. IN

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Pomeroy, Fry & Co., operating in Indianapolis, Indiana. As Indiana's capital and a major railroad hub, Indianapolis was the center of the state's Civil War token production, with merchants using tokens as practical emergency currency. Pomeroy, Fry & Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This zinc striking (Fuld 460O-1i) is scarce among the known varieties. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 460O-1i