(1863) Civil War Store Card F-225BW-2b, /a Bi-Metallic Geo. Snooks MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS64 12-13-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Fuld 225BW-2b — store card of /a Bi-Metallic Geo. Snooks, Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. The 10 cataloged varieties for /a Bi-Metallic Geo. Snooks indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 225BW-2b) is common to somewhat scarce. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 10 cataloged varieties, /a Bi-Metallic Geo. Snooks was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BW-2b