(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-225AY-1a, Messmore & Lucking MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$91 MS63BN 05-27-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Messmore & Lucking, operating in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. Messmore & Lucking issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 225AY-1a) is common for this merchant. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 6 cataloged varieties, Messmore & Lucking was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AY-1a