(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-735B-1a, M.L. Stewart MI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of M.L. Stewart in Owosso, Michigan, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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, M.L. Stewart produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 735B-1a) is common for this merchant. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. 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. 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 3 cataloged varieties, M.L. Stewart was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 735B-1a