(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225BS-2B, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by E.B. Smith 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. E.B. Smith issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 225BS-2B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, E.B. Smith was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225BS-2B