(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225CJ-2I, MI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from Detroit, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 225CJ-2I. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 225CJ-2I) is 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. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 4 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 225CJ-2I