(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-510AP-1b, WI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 MS63 04-13-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

H. Upmeyer of Wisconsin 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. H. Upmeyer issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 510AP-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, H. Upmeyer was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 510AP-1b