(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-588A-2B, MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Van Duyn & Lynch, operating in Manchester, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 4 known varieties, Van Duyn & Lynch produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 588A-2B) 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. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. 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, Van Duyn & Lynch was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 588A-2B