(1862) Brass Civil War Store Card F-370J-1b, L.H. Randall MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by L.H. Randall, operating in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids was a growing commercial center in western Michigan, famous for its furniture manufacturing and lumber industry. With 3 known varieties, L.H. Randall produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 370J-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. 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. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 3 cataloged varieties, L.H. Randall was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 370J-1b