(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-A25B, M. Kingsbury-John Stanton

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 AU55 06-16-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by M. Kingsbury, sutler to the 18th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Struck in brass, this 25-cent token circulated as private camp currency redeemable for merchandise from the sutler. Sutler to the 18th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Connecticut is described as a very scarce one-sutler, two-variety state for sutler tokens. Served in the VIII Corps. The regiment was captured almost entirely at the Second Battle of Winchester in June 1863. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Brass predominated in sutler token production, accounting for the majority of known surviving examples across all issuers. Brass stock was available through commercial metal suppliers, making it the most accessible material for wartime token production. Issued during the Civil War era when federal coin hoarding created intense demand for privately struck camp currency. Sutler issues constitute the scarcest of the three Civil War token families, with significantly lower survival rates than the more commonly encountered patriotic and store card types. The April and June 1864 anti-token laws ended legal production of sutler tokens, and Congress completed the process by abolishing sutlers entirely in 1866.

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