(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-40D-2a, Stebbins & Wilson MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$100 AU58BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Stebbins & Wilson in Michigan. Michigan was a significant industrial state during the Civil War, with Detroit emerging as a major manufacturing center and merchants across the state producing tokens. With 3 known varieties, Stebbins & Wilson produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 40D-2a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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, Stebbins & Wilson was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 40D-2a