(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-587B-2a, A. Button MI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of A. Button in Lyons, 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. A. Button issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 587B-2a) 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. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

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 6 cataloged varieties, A. Button was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 587B-2a