(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-A25B, C. Gilpin

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by C. Gilpin. Struck in brass, this 25-cent token circulated as private camp currency redeemable for merchandise from the sutler. Sutler who issued brass 25-cent tokens (S-A25B). The non-standard Schenkman letter prefix suggests this token falls outside the standard state-regiment numbering system, indicating uncertain attribution. 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. Issued during the Civil War era when federal coin hoarding created intense demand for privately struck camp currency. Among the three categories of Civil War tokens — patriotic, store card, and sutler — sutler tokens are by far the scarcest in surviving numbers. Federal legislation in April and June 1864 banned private token production, and the sutler system itself was officially terminated in 1866. 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-A25B. 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-A25B