(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-160A-2a, C. Cummings MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by C. Cummings, operating in Charlotte, Michigan. 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 3 known varieties, C. Cummings produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 160A-2a) is common among the known varieties. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 3 cataloged varieties, C. Cummings was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 160A-2a