(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225BK-3D, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Alonzo Rolfe of Detroit, Michigan. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. Alonzo Rolfe issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 225BK-3D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private 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 6 cataloged varieties, Alonzo Rolfe was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BK-3D