(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-770B-1b, Morris & Messinger MI

Coin Details

Description

Morris & Messinger of Pontiac 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, Morris & Messinger produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 770B-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 2 cataloged varieties, Morris & Messinger was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 770B-1b