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

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from American Coffee Mills of Detroit, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 225B-4D. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. American Coffee Mills issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 225B-4D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. 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. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 9 cataloged varieties, American Coffee Mills was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225B-4D