(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-225M-5d, Charles Busch MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Charles Busch of 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. Charles Busch issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 225M-5d) is somewhat scarce. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 8 cataloged varieties, Charles Busch was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225M-5d