(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-790A-2b, WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Trowbridge's of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. 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. Trowbridge's issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 790A-2b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, Trowbridge's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 790A-2b