(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-160A-2B, MI

Coin Details

Description

C. Cummings of Charlotte issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 3 known varieties, C. Cummings produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 160A-2B) is common to somewhat scarce. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 3 cataloged varieties, C. Cummings was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 160A-2B