(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-510R-1a, Ch. Hermann & Co. WI

Coin Details

Description

Ch. Hermann & Co., based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Milwaukee was Wisconsin's largest city and a major brewing and manufacturing center, with its large German immigrant population strongly supporting the Union cause. The 15 cataloged varieties for Ch. Hermann & Co. indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 510R-1a) is common for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 15 cataloged varieties, Ch. Hermann & Co. was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 510R-1a