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

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Heinman's in Detroit, Michigan, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. Heinman's issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225AJ-1A) is common. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 8 cataloged varieties, Heinman's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AJ-1A