(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225AO-4I, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by C.J. Holthofer of Detroit, Michigan. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. The 10 cataloged varieties for C.J. Holthofer indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 225AO-4I) is scarce. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. 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. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 10 cataloged varieties, C.J. Holthofer was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AO-4I