(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-A5B, J. Holmes-John Stanton

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by J. Holmes. This 5-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler whose brass 5-cent token (S-A5B) was manufactured by John Stanton of Cincinnati. The non-standard Schenkman prefix suggests uncertain regiment attribution. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Brass was favored by token manufacturers for its workability and longevity, yielding pieces that retained legible details even after extensive circulation among soldiers. Manufactured during the war years when private tokens filled the coinage vacuum in military camps across the Union states. Civil War tokens are classified into three categories, and sutler tokens represent the rarest, surviving in far smaller numbers than patriotic or merchant store card issues. Congressional acts in 1864 outlawed private coinage of all types, and the postwar reorganization of 1866 eliminated the sutler system in favor of government-run post exchanges. The sutler system gave licensed merchants a monopoly on camp commerce, and soldiers frequently complained about inflated prices. Congress limited debt collection to one-sixth of a soldier's monthly pay in March 1862.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-A5B. 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-A5B