(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-5C-1a, J.A. Castle MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by J.A. Castle, operating in Adrian, 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 4 known varieties, J.A. Castle produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 5C-1a) is common. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 4 cataloged varieties, J.A. Castle was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 5C-1a