(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-700D-2a, G.W & H.C. Platt MI

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from G.W & H.C. Platt of Niles, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 700D-2a. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 2 known varieties, G.W & H.C. Platt produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 700D-2a) is common among the known varieties. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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, G.W & H.C. Platt was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700D-2a