(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225BQ-2A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of John Seeley, located in 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. John Seeley issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225BQ-2A) is common. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 8 cataloged varieties, John Seeley was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BQ-2A