(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-460P-1i, Roll & Smith IN

Coin Details

Description

Roll & Smith, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. 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. Roll & Smith issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 460P-1i) is scarce. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. 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, Roll & Smith was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460P-1i