(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225AA-1A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Farmers Clothing Store of Michigan issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. Michigan was a significant industrial state during the Civil War, with Detroit emerging as a major manufacturing center and merchants across the state producing tokens. Farmers Clothing Store issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 225AA-1A) is common for this merchant. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. 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. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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, Farmers Clothing Store was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AA-1A