(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-560B-4B, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of A.J. Viele, located in Lansing, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 4 known varieties, A.J. Viele produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 560B-4B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 560B-4B