1863 Civil War Store Card F-960A-12A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 960A-12A — store card of E. Hewitt & Bro., Ypsilanti, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. E. Hewitt & Bro. issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 960A-12A) is common among the known varieties. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. The Civil War token series provides one of the most comprehensive records of mid-nineteenth century American retail commerce, documenting businesses that left few other historical traces. 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 8 cataloged varieties, E. Hewitt & Bro. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 960A-12A