(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-615A-2B, MI

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from J.W. Phelps & Co of Mason, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 615A-2B. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 4 known varieties, J.W. Phelps & Co produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 615A-2B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 615A-2B