(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-510O-2a, WI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of C.E. Graff in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Milwaukee was Wisconsin's largest city and a major brewing and manufacturing center, with its large German immigrant population strongly supporting the Union cause. The 15 cataloged varieties for C.E. Graff indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 510O-2a) is common. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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 15 cataloged varieties, C.E. Graff was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 510O-2a