(1861) Copper Civil War Store Card F-280A-3a, Charles W. Bernacki MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Charles W. Bernacki, operating in E.saginaw, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 2 known varieties, Charles W. Bernacki produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 280A-3a) is common among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. The Act of April 22, 1864 effectively ended private coinage by imposing penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine for producing unauthorized coins or tokens. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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, Charles W. Bernacki was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 280A-3a