(No Date) Brass Civil War Store Card F-920H-4b, Chas. Goeldner WI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Chas. Goeldner in Watertown, Wisconsin, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. Chas. Goeldner issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 920H-4b) is common to somewhat scarce. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 7 cataloged varieties, Chas. Goeldner was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 920H-4b