(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-5D-1a, Remington & Bennett MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Remington & Bennett of 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, Remington & Bennett produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 5D-1a) is common. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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. 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 4 cataloged varieties, Remington & Bennett was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 5D-1a