(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-460Q-2A, IN

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Roos & Schmalzried, an Indianapolis, Indiana business. 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. This copper striking (Fuld 460Q-2A) is common among the known varieties. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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-2A