(1861-65) Civil War Store Card F-280E-1a, A. Schmitz MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 MS62BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Merchant token from A. Schmitz of Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 280E-1a. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 3 known varieties, A. Schmitz produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 280E-1a) is common for this merchant. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. 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. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 3 cataloged varieties, A. Schmitz was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 280E-1a