(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-225AJa-3d, Heinman's MI

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Heinman's of Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 225AJa-3d. Michigan's merchants across numerous cities actively produced tokens to combat the small change shortage affecting Northern commerce. With 2 known varieties, Heinman's produced a modest number of token types. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 225AJa-3d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. 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. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 2 cataloged varieties, Heinman's was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 225AJa-3d