(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-330B-3a, WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Gerken & Ernst of Kenosha, 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, Gerken & Ernst produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 330B-3a) is common among the known varieties. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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, Gerken & Ernst was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 330B-3a