(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225A-7D, MI

Coin Details

Description

W.J. Adderly, a Detroit merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. The 12 cataloged varieties for W.J. Adderly indicate a notable level of token production. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 225A-7D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 12 cataloged varieties, W.J. Adderly was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225A-7D