(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-610B-5A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by C.M. Brewer of Marshall, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. C.M. Brewer issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 610B-5A) is common among the known varieties. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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 5 cataloged varieties, C.M. Brewer was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 610B-5A