Civil War Merchant Token - Seth Smith and Son Family Grocerie

Features

Location United States
Type Unclassified exonumia › Miscellaneous token
Years 1861-1865
Currency Civil War Tokens
Composition Copper
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Number
N#
119696
References Fuld# 225BT-1a
George Fuld, Melvin Fuld, John Ostendorf; 2014. U.S. Civil War Store Cards (3rd edition). Quarterman Publications, Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Obverse

Script: Latin

Lettering: SETH SMITH & SON DETROIT MIC

Reverse

Script: Latin

Lettering: GENRAL DEALER IN FAMILY GROCERIE FLOUR & FEED GLASSWARE ETC ETC 390 GRAND RIVER

Translation: STR

Comments

(1861-65) Seth Smith & Son, Detroit, MI, F-225BT-1a, R.9, Cliff Temple wrote about Seth Smith in the Winter 1970 issue of the Journal of the Civil War Token Society. Smith was born near Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1819, and first came to Michigan in 1841. He returned home a few years later, and traveled back to Michigan in 1855. The following year he established a grocery business in Detroit. For several years he operated the business as a sole-proprietorship, adding his son, Daniel, according to the 1863 city directory. The store was located at 390 Grand River Avenue. The following year, the local directory listed the elder Smith alone. He apparently left the grocery business in 1865, and entered the real estate business, engaged in the profession until he retired in 1905. He died in 1910 at the age of 91.
Temple writes: "Inasmuch as this store card bears no date, questions have been raised as to whether it belongs with the Civil War store card version. The records previously cited leave no doubt that the store card of Seth Smith & Son could only have been issued in 1863, and rightfully belongs among the Civil War store cards."

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (1861-1865)  Rare

Get this item

No member from this site currently wants to exchange it.

Numista Rarity index: 100 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Contribute to the catalogue

Modify or add data on this page
Register a past auction sale
Register an example of this type
Duplicate this page
Share: Facebook X (Twitter)