(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-250I-5a, WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from J.J. St. Louis, a Green Bay, Wisconsin business. 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. J.J. St. Louis issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 250I-5a) is common for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. 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. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 9 cataloged varieties, J.J. St. Louis was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 250I-5a