(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-410G-4d, WI

Coin Details

Description

Madison Brewery, a Madison merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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. Madison Brewery issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 410G-4d) is somewhat scarce. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 6 cataloged varieties, Madison Brewery was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 410G-4d