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

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 225E-2I — store card of G. Bamlet, Detroit, Michigan. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. G. Bamlet issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This zinc striking (Fuld 225E-2I) is scarce among the known varieties. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 7 cataloged varieties, G. Bamlet was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225E-2I