(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225K-5A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Broeg & Gerber 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. Broeg & Gerber issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 225K-5A) is common 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. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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, Broeg & Gerber was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225K-5A