(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-920H-4a, Chas. Goeldner WI

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Chas. Goeldner, a Watertown, Wisconsin business. 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. Chas. Goeldner issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 920H-4a) is common among the known varieties. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 7 cataloged varieties, Chas. Goeldner was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 920H-4a