(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-225BY-1a, J.D & C.B. Standish's MI

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by J.D & C.B. Standish's in Michigan. Michigan was a significant industrial state during the Civil War, with Detroit emerging as a major manufacturing center and merchants across the state producing tokens. With 2 known varieties, J.D & C.B. Standish's produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 225BY-1a) is common among the known varieties. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 2 cataloged varieties, J.D & C.B. Standish's was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 225BY-1a