(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225BC-1I, MI

Coin Details

Description

Perkins Hotel, based in Detroit, Michigan, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. Perkins Hotel issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 225BC-1I) is scarce. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 6 cataloged varieties, Perkins Hotel was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BC-1I