(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-225AC-6d, L.S. Freeman MI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of L.S. Freeman in Detroit, Michigan, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. L.S. Freeman issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 225AC-6d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. 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-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 9 cataloged varieties, L.S. Freeman was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AC-6d