(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225AX-3A, MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Mather & Shefferly, operating in 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. Mather & Shefferly issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225AX-3A) is common. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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, Mather & Shefferly was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AX-3A