(No Date) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-460Y-4e, J.B. Wilson IN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 PR66CAM 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Merchant token from J.B. Wilson of Indianapolis, Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 460Y-4e. 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. J.B. Wilson issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The white metal composition of this variety (Fuld 460Y-4e) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. White metal (a tin-based alloy) pieces are scarcer than copper and often show significant wear from their soft composition.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 6 cataloged varieties, J.B. Wilson was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 460Y-4e