(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-225AFa-2a, F. Geiss MI

Coin Details

Description

F. Geiss & Bro's, based in Detroit, Michigan, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. F. Geiss & Bro's issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225AFa-2a) is common. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 6 cataloged varieties, F. Geiss & Bro's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AFa-2a