(No Date) Brass Civil War Store Card F-588A-1b, Van Duyn & Lynch MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Van Duyn & Lynch of Manchester, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 4 known varieties, Van Duyn & Lynch produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 588A-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. 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. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 4 cataloged varieties, Van Duyn & Lynch was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 588A-1b