(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-370B-2b, Courlander & Pressgood MI

Coin Details

Description

Courlander & Pressgood of Michigan issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 4 known varieties, Courlander & Pressgood produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 370B-2b) is common to somewhat scarce. 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. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 4 cataloged varieties, Courlander & Pressgood was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 370B-2b