(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token MB-25B, H. Rice-John Stanton

Coin Details

Auction Record

$150 XF Details 03-13-2018 eBay

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by Henry Rice, sutler to the McClernand's Brigade, Illinois Volunteers. This 25-cent brass piece functioned as camp scrip, exchangeable for provisions and sundries at the sutler's traveling store. A German-born Jewish merchant from Jacksonville, Illinois who enjoyed a personal friendship with Abraham Lincoln. Rice offered to tailor Lincoln's inauguration suit and later dined with the President at the White House. His 10-cent brass token (11mm, by John Stanton of Cincinnati) is one of the smallest sutler tokens known. Fewer than twenty examples of his token survive, making it a prized rarity with a direct connection to President Lincoln. Served under Major General John A. McClernand in the Western Theater, including operations along the Mississippi River. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Struck in brass, the alloy most commonly employed by sutler token manufacturers during the war years. The brass alloy retained die details effectively, and many surviving examples preserve crisp legends and design elements. Issued during the years when military camp commerce depended on private token currency to compensate for the federal coin shortage.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman MB-25B. All sutler tokens are rated R-5 or higher on the Fuld rarity scale (fewer than 200 surviving examples of any given variety). In brass, this variety falls within the common range for the series. An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 sutler token pieces survive across all varieties.

Cross References

Schenkman MB-25B