(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-700A-1a, J.I. Case & Co. WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of J.I. Case & Co., 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.I. Case & Co. produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 700A-1a) is common. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Many Civil War tokens were produced in quantities far exceeding actual commercial need, as die sinkers and merchants recognized the speculative collecting interest that was already developing. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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.I. Case & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700A-1a