(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225BB-1A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Plated Geo. H. Parker, a Detroit, Michigan business. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. Plated Geo. H. Parker issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 225BB-1A) is common among the known varieties. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 7 cataloged varieties, Plated Geo. H. Parker was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BB-1A