(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-E25B, John I. Metcalf-John Stanton

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,600 MS63 06-16-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by John I. Metcalf. This 25-cent brass piece functioned as camp scrip, exchangeable for provisions and sundries at the sutler's traveling store. Sutler whose tokens were manufactured by John Stanton of Cincinnati. Metcalf issued brass tokens in 10-cent and 25-cent denominations, using dies that paired his name with Stanton's die sinker mark. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Produced in brass, the standard composition for the majority of Civil War sutler tokens. Brass proved an effective striking medium, and tokens from this era often display remarkably well-preserved details despite decades of handling. Produced in the war years when soldiers and sutlers alike depended on token currency for everyday camp transactions. 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 legislation in April and June 1864 banned private token production, and the sutler system itself was officially terminated in 1866. Collectors classify Civil War sutler tokens by issuer, regiment, denomination, and metal composition. The Schenkman catalog, first published in 1983 and revised by Richard W. Irons, remains the standard reference for the series.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-E25B. 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-E25B