(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-620D-2a, Andrew Haben & Co. WI

Coin Details

Description

Andrew Haben & Co. of Oshkosh issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Wisconsin was a growing frontier state with Milwaukee as its largest commercial center, and its merchants issued tokens as practical solutions to the coin shortage. With 4 known varieties, Andrew Haben & Co. produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 620D-2a) is common. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 4 cataloged varieties, Andrew Haben & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 620D-2a