(1861) Copper Civil War Store Card F-700E-3a, J.W. English WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of J.W. English, located in Racine, Wisconsin. 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, J.W. English produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 700E-3a) is common among the known varieties. 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. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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 4 cataloged varieties, J.W. English was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700E-3a