(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225D-2A, MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$74 MS63BN 10-07-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

Antisdel & Hills, based in Detroit, Michigan, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. Antisdel & Hills issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 225D-2A) is common among the known varieties. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 7 cataloged varieties, Antisdel & Hills was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225D-2A