(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-225Z-2A, MI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 225Z-2A — store card of Wm. Eisenlord, 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. Wm. Eisenlord issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225Z-2A) is common. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. 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 7 cataloged varieties, Wm. Eisenlord was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225Z-2A