(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-40A-1B, MI

Coin Details

Description

Philip Bach, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. 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. The 13 cataloged varieties for Philip Bach indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 40A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. 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 13 cataloged varieties, Philip Bach was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 40A-1B