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

Coin Details

Description

Geo. Beard & Son of Detroit issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. As Michigan's commercial hub, Detroit generated more Civil War token varieties than any other city in the state, reflecting its diverse merchant community. Geo. Beard & Son issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 225G-2I) is scarce for this merchant. 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. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Zinc tokens corrode easily, and surviving examples in good condition are scarce.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 225G-2I