(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-1-5B, H. D. McKinney

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by H.D. McKinney. Struck in brass, this 5-cent token circulated as private camp currency redeemable for merchandise from the sutler. Sutler who issued brass 5-cent tokens. McKinney's name appears with slight spacing variants in different title records (H.D. vs H. D.), confirming these are the same issuer. This brass composition was typical of sutler tokens, as the alloy offered manufacturers an economical way to produce durable camp currency. Brass stock was available through commercial metal suppliers, making it the most accessible material for wartime token production. Struck during the wartime era when sutlers relied on privately issued tokens to facilitate daily transactions with soldiers. The sutler occupied a unique position as a government-licensed civilian merchant embedded within a military unit, providing goods that supplemented standard army rations. The postwar reorganization of 1866 abolished sutlers in favor of the post exchange system, marking the end of private military camp merchants. Most sutler tokens were produced by die sinkers in Cincinnati (John Stanton, James Murdock Jr.) and the Northeast (William Bridgens in New York, Koehler in Baltimore). Custom dies bearing the sutler's name and regiment were paired with patriotic or eagle reverses.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-1-5B. 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 S-1-5B