(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-85B-1A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Wm. R. Cobb, located in Brighton, Michigan. Michigan was a significant industrial state during the Civil War, with Detroit emerging as a major manufacturing center and merchants across the state producing tokens. Wm. R. Cobb issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 85B-1A) is common for this merchant. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. 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. 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

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 7 cataloged varieties, Wm. R. Cobb was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 85B-1A