(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-180B-1a, R & J.T. Peter MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by R & J.T. Peter, operating in Clarkston, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. R & J.T. Peter issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 180B-1a) 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 hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Some token dies were used so extensively that late strikes show significant die wear, providing collectors with a chronological sequence of the production run from fresh to deteriorated states. 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 5 cataloged varieties, R & J.T. Peter was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 180B-1a