(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-4a-10B, E.W. Hamlin-John Stanton

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 AU58 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by E.W. Hamlin, sutler to the 4th Regiment (variety a). This 10-cent brass piece functioned as camp scrip, exchangeable for provisions and sundries at the sutler's traveling store. Sutler whose brass 10-cent token (S-4a-10B) was manufactured by John Stanton of Cincinnati. The S-4a designation indicates the first variety for this regiment number, distinguishing Hamlin from other sutlers who served 4th regiments. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Produced in brass, the workhorse alloy of Civil War-era private token manufacturers. The durability of the brass composition means that many surviving tokens retain legible inscriptions and identifiable design features. Manufactured during the peak years of sutler token production, when camp commerce required a reliable medium of exchange. Sutlers held official military licenses to operate as the designated civilian merchants within specific regiments, selling everything from tobacco to writing paper. Congress formally ended the sutler system in 1866, transitioning military retail to government-operated exchanges.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-4a-10B. 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-4a-10B