(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225CK-5A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Henry Weber in Detroit, Michigan, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. The 12 cataloged varieties for Henry Weber indicate a notable level of token production. This copper striking (Fuld 225CK-5A) is common among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 12 cataloged varieties, Henry Weber was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225CK-5A