(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-610B-3a, C.M. Brewer MI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of C.M. Brewer in Marshall, 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. C.M. Brewer issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 610B-3a) is common. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

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 5 cataloged varieties, C.M. Brewer was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 610B-3a