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

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Goff Stenton, a Detroit, Michigan business. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. Goff Stenton issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 225CA-3D) is somewhat scarce. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical 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, Goff Stenton was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225CA-3D