(1861) Copper Civil War Store Card F-200A-4a, H.A. Crane MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$264 MS62BN 05-29-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

H.A. Crane of Corunna issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. 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 2 known varieties, H.A. Crane produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 200A-4a) is common. 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 2 cataloged varieties, H.A. Crane was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 200A-4a