(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-855A-1a, Gallagher & Hess MI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 855A-1a — store card of Gallagher & Hess, Salina, 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 2 known varieties, Gallagher & Hess produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 855A-1a) is common. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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, Gallagher & Hess was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 855A-1a