(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-45A-2A, MI

Coin Details

Description

F.J. & J. Palmer's of Atlas 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. F.J. & J. Palmer's issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 45A-2A) is common for this merchant. 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 hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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, F.J. & J. Palmer's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 45A-2A