(1863) Civil War Store Card F-225K-3a, Broeg & Gerber MI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Broeg & Gerber in Detroit, Michigan, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. Broeg & Gerber issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 225K-3a) is common among the known varieties. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. 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

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 8 cataloged varieties, Broeg & Gerber was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225K-3a