(1863) Civil War Store Card F-450G-2a, A. Gleason MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$144 MS64BN 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Fuld 450G-2a — store card of A. Gleason, Hillsdale, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. A. Gleason issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 450G-2a) is common among the known varieties. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. 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. Token production during the Civil War represented the largest private coinage movement in American history, with an estimated 25 million pieces struck between 1862 and 1864. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 6 cataloged varieties, A. Gleason was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 450G-2a