(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-460B-1I, IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Boston Store of 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. Boston Store issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 460B-1I) is scarce. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 460B-1I