(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-510AP-1a, H. Upmeyer WI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of H. Upmeyer in Wisconsin, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. H. Upmeyer issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 510AP-1a) is common for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 8 cataloged varieties, H. Upmeyer was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 510AP-1a