(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-85B-3A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Wm. R. Cobb, located in Brighton, Michigan. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. Wm. R. Cobb issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 85B-3A) is common among the known varieties. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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-3A