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

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by J.A. Rodier of Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. J.A. Rodier issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 225BJ-3B) is common to 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. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 7 cataloged varieties, J.A. Rodier was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BJ-3B