(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-700F-1b, WI

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Erhardt & Raps of Racine, Wisconsin, cataloged as Fuld 700F-1b. 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. With 2 known varieties, Erhardt & Raps produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 700F-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 2 cataloged varieties, Erhardt & Raps was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700F-1b