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

Coin Details

Description

Randal's of Detroit issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. The 10 cataloged varieties for Randal's indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 225BG-1A) is common for this merchant. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 10 cataloged varieties, Randal's was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BG-1A