(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-570A-3a, Fairbank & Scriver MI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 570A-3a — store card of Fairbank & Scriver, Lawton, 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 3 known varieties, Fairbank & Scriver produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 570A-3a) is common. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The coin shortage was exacerbated by the simultaneous withdrawal of gold and silver from circulation following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861. 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 3 cataloged varieties, Fairbank & Scriver was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 570A-3a