(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token MB-50B, H. Rice-John Stanton

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by Henry Rice, sutler to the McClernand's Brigade, Illinois Volunteers. This 50-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field 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. Brass tokens dominated sutler currency production because the alloy combined reasonable cost with the physical durability demanded by camp circulation. Struck during the wartime era when sutlers relied on privately issued tokens to facilitate daily transactions with soldiers.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman MB-50B. 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-50B