(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-55A-1a, F. Krueger WI

Coin Details

Description

F. Krueger of Beaver Dam 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 2 known varieties, F. Krueger produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 55A-1a) is common. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

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 2 cataloged varieties, F. Krueger was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 55A-1a