(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-855A-3a, Gallagher & Hess MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Gallagher & Hess, operating in 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-3a) is common. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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-3a