(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-B5B, Sid Wright

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by Sidney Wright, sutler to the 11th Indiana Cavalry. This 5-cent brass piece functioned as camp scrip, exchangeable for provisions and sundries at the sutler's traveling store. Sutler to the 11th Indiana Cavalry regiment. Indiana contributed significant cavalry forces to the Union Army, and sutlers traveling with mounted units faced the additional challenge of keeping pace with fast-moving cavalry operations. Conducted mounted operations in Kentucky and Tennessee. Manufactured in brass, which accounted for the bulk of sutler token production during the 1860s. Brass proved an effective striking medium, and tokens from this era often display remarkably well-preserved details despite decades of handling. Manufactured during the peak years of sutler token production, when camp commerce required a reliable medium of exchange. The sutler system granted licensed civilian merchants exclusive rights to sell goods within military camps, providing soldiers access to tobacco, writing materials, candy, and personal items. Legislative action in 1866 terminated the sutler system, ending a tradition of licensed civilian merchants serving military units.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-B5B. 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-B5B