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

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from American Coffee Mills of Detroit, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 225B-3A. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. American Coffee Mills issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 225B-3A) is common for this merchant. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

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 9 cataloged varieties, American Coffee Mills was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225B-3A