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

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by M. Kingsbury, sutler to the 18th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. This 5-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. 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. The choice of brass reflected practical manufacturing considerations — the alloy struck cleanly from dies, resisted environmental damage, and cost less to produce than copper or silver. Issued during the Civil War era when federal coin hoarding created intense demand for privately struck camp currency. Sutler tokens rank as the rarest category in the Civil War token series, with far fewer surviving examples than either patriotic or store card types. Federal prohibition of private tokens in 1864 halted new sutler token production, and the 1866 abolition of the sutler system closed this chapter of military commerce permanently.

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