(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-185A-3b, C.W. Smith WI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 185A-3b — store card of C.W. Smith, East Troy, 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. The 12 cataloged varieties for C.W. Smith indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 185A-3b) is common to somewhat scarce. 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. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 12 cataloged varieties, C.W. Smith was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 185A-3b