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

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 225Z-4A — 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. This copper striking (Fuld 225Z-4A) is common among the known varieties. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

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-4A