(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225AI-2I, MI

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Hamman & Co of Detroit, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 225AI-2I. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. Hamman & Co issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This zinc striking (Fuld 225AI-2I) is scarce among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 6 cataloged varieties, Hamman & Co was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AI-2I