(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-225BN-1a, J. Schmidt MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$156 MS64BN 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of J. Schmidt, located in Detroit, Michigan. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. J. Schmidt issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225BN-1a) is common. 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. The federal government's response to the coin shortage included issuing fractional currency in denominations as small as three cents, but these paper notes wore out quickly and were unpopular with merchants. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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, J. Schmidt was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BN-1a