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

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Mather & Shefferly, operating in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. Mather & Shefferly issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 225AX-4B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The brass composition gives this token a warm golden tone that contrasts with the reddish-brown of copper strikings.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, Mather & Shefferly was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AX-4B