(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-615A-3D, MI

Coin Details

Description

J.W. Phelps & Co, a Mason merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 615A-3D) is somewhat scarce. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 4 cataloged varieties, J.W. Phelps & Co was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 615A-3D