(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-440A-2a, D.C. Hawley MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from D.C. Hawley, a Hastings, Michigan business. 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 2 known varieties, D.C. Hawley produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 440A-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 hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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, D.C. Hawley was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 440A-2a