(1863) Civil War Store Card F-700G-4a, Thos. Falvey WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Thos. Falvey of 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. Thos. Falvey issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 700G-4a) 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. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

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 5 cataloged varieties, Thos. Falvey was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 700G-4a