(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-27-5B, Murdock & Spencer

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by Murdock & Spencer, sutler to the 27th United States Colored Infantry. Struck in brass, this 5-cent token circulated as private camp currency redeemable for merchandise from the sutler. Token attributed to James Murdock Jr. and William W. Spencer, Cincinnati die sinkers who worked with John Stanton. The 27th USCI was organized at Camp Delaware, Ohio in January 1864. The regiment marched past President Lincoln, who reviewed them from a balcony at the Willard Hotel. They fought at Chaffin's Farm, along the Weldon Railroad, and at Petersburg. A brass 5-cent token (US-27-5B, R8) from the Steve Tanenbaum Collection sold at Heritage Auctions. A specimen was found at the Pamplin Historical Park battlefield site at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. Organized at Camp Delaware, Ohio in January 1864. Marched past President Lincoln at the Willard Hotel. Fought at Chaffin's Farm, along the Weldon Railroad, and at Petersburg. Dies were cut by Murdock & Spencer. Brass was the predominant metal for sutler tokens, chosen for its balance of striking quality and production economy. Token manufacturers sourced brass planchets from Midwestern and Northeastern metal suppliers who served the broader commercial stamping industry. Produced during the war years when sutler tokens served as essential camp currency across Union military installations.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-27-5B. 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-27-5B