(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-525A-1a, S. Holland & Son MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$359 AU55BN 01-31-2023 eBay

Description

Store card of S. Holland & Son in Jackson, Michigan, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. This copper striking (Fuld 525A-1a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Token issuers ranged from sole proprietors to large retail establishments, with some merchants ordering thousands of pieces while others had only a few hundred struck for local distribution. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 1 cataloged varieties, S. Holland & Son was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 525A-1a