(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-16-5Ba, G.P. Westcott

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by G.P. Westcott, sutler to the 16th U.S. Infantry (Regular Army). Struck in brass, this 5-cent token circulated as private camp currency redeemable for merchandise from the sutler. Sutler to the 16th U.S. Infantry, a Regular Army regiment (not a state volunteer unit). The name appears as both G.P. and C.P. Westcott on different tokens, possibly reflecting a misreading of period script on the dies. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati. A Regular Army regiment that served throughout the war, distinguishing itself at Stones River and Chickamauga. John Stanton's die-cutting business in Cincinnati served sutlers across multiple states, and his distinctive style is identifiable across many surviving tokens. This brass composition was typical of sutler tokens, as the alloy offered manufacturers an economical way to produce durable camp currency. Brass planchets were procured through commercial metal distributors who supplied the broader token, button, and hardware manufacturing trade. Struck during the period when the federal coin shortage drove widespread adoption of privately issued tokens in military camps. Fewer than 6,000 sutler token pieces are estimated to survive across all varieties, a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of patriotic and store card tokens that exist. The War Department imposed price controls on sutlers through the regimental council system, giving soldiers a formal mechanism to challenge excessive charges.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-16-5Ba. All sutler tokens are rated R-5 or higher on the Fuld rarity scale (fewer than 200 surviving examples of any given variety). Brass strikes are common for sutler tokens. An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 sutler token pieces survive across all varieties.

Cross References

Schenkman S-16-5Ba