(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225AG-4B, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by F. Gies & Bro's of Michigan. 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. F. Gies & Bro's issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 225AG-4B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, F. Gies & Bro's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AG-4B