(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-370H-8b, J.W. Peirce MI

Coin Details

Description

J.W. Peirce, a Grand Rapids merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Grand Rapids was a growing commercial center in western Michigan, famous for its furniture manufacturing and lumber industry. The 12 cataloged varieties for J.W. Peirce indicate a notable level of token production. This brass striking (Fuld 370H-8b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 12 cataloged varieties, J.W. Peirce was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 370H-8b