(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-175A-1a, Congdon Brothers MI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 175A-1a — store card of Congdon Brothers, Chelsea, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 2 known varieties, Congdon Brothers produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 175A-1a) is common. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. 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. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 2 cataloged varieties, Congdon Brothers was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 175A-1a