(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-225R-2b, A.W. Copeland's MI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 225R-2b — store card of A.W. Copeland's, Detroit, Michigan. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. A.W. Copeland's issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 225R-2b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, A.W. Copeland's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225R-2b