(No Date) Brass Civil War Store Card F-370K-2b, A. Roberts & Son MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$120 AU58BN 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This Civil War token was issued by A. Roberts & Son in Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. A. Roberts & Son issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 370K-2b) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper. 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

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, A. Roberts & Son was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 370K-2b