(1864) Brass Civil War Store Card F-220E-1b, F. Fritz WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of F. Fritz, located in Fonddulac, 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. F. Fritz issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 220E-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors. 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

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 9 cataloged varieties, F. Fritz was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 220E-1b