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

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from A.W. Copeland's of Detroit, Michigan, cataloged as Fuld 225R-2I. Detroit was Michigan's largest city and a major manufacturing center, producing stoves, railroad equipment, and industrial goods for the Northern war effort. A.W. Copeland's issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This zinc striking (Fuld 225R-2I) is scarce among the known varieties. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. 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 8 cataloged varieties, A.W. Copeland's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225R-2I