(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-370D-2A, MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Goodrich & Gay, operating in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids was a growing commercial center in western Michigan, famous for its furniture manufacturing and lumber industry. Goodrich & Gay issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 370D-2A) is common among the known varieties. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 7 cataloged varieties, Goodrich & Gay was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 370D-2A