(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225H-4A, MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by H.W. Beeson, operating in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. H.W. Beeson issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 225H-4A) is common for this merchant. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

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 8 cataloged varieties, H.W. Beeson was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225H-4A