(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-510AB-5b, WI

Coin Details

Description

Friedrich Miller, a Milwaukee merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Milwaukee was Wisconsin's largest city and a major brewing and manufacturing center, with its large German immigrant population strongly supporting the Union cause. Friedrich Miller issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 510AB-5b) is common to somewhat scarce. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. The brass composition gives this token a warm golden tone that contrasts with the reddish-brown of copper strikings.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 510AB-5b