(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225CK-7B, MI

Coin Details

Description

Henry Weber, a Detroit merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 225CK-7B) is common to somewhat scarce. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 12 cataloged varieties, Henry Weber was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225CK-7B