(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-530F-2a, H.S. Parker & Co. MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$228 AU50BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of H.S. Parker & Co., located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 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, H.S. Parker & Co. produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 530F-2a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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, H.S. Parker & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 530F-2a