(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-510O-3b, WI

Coin Details

Description

C.E. Graff of Milwaukee issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Milwaukee's thriving German-American merchant community made it the center of Wisconsin's Civil War token production. The 15 cataloged varieties for C.E. Graff indicate a notable level of token production. This brass striking (Fuld 510O-3b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 15 cataloged varieties, C.E. Graff was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 510O-3b