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

Coin Details

Description

Store card of A. Kleinsteiber 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. With 2 known varieties, A. Kleinsteiber produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 510U-2a) is common among the known varieties. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 2 cataloged varieties, A. Kleinsteiber was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 510U-2a