(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-180A-1a, M.H. Clark MI

Coin Details

Description

M.H. Clark of Clarkston 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. M.H. Clark issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 180A-1a) is common. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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, M.H. Clark was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 180A-1a