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

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 460R-1I — store card of J.F. Lenour, 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. The 10 cataloged varieties for J.F. Lenour indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 460R-1I) is scarce. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. 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 10 cataloged varieties, J.F. Lenour was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460R-1I