(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-460Q-1A, IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Roos & Schmalzried 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. Roos & Schmalzried issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 460Q-1A) is common. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 6 cataloged varieties, Roos & Schmalzried was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460Q-1A