(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-H5B, Baxter's Fire Zouaves

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by Baxter's Fire Zouaves, sutler to the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This 5-cent brass piece functioned as camp scrip, exchangeable for provisions and sundries at the sutler's traveling store. Sutler tokens for the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, recruited primarily from Philadelphia fire companies and organized under Colonel DeWitt Clinton Baxter in August 1861. Nearly every fire company in Philadelphia was represented. The regiment wore distinctive Zouave-style uniforms and fought at Gettysburg, where it has a prominent battlefield monument. The sutler's initials A.W.H. on the tokens have not been positively identified. Rated R7. An AU example realized $1,050 at auction in December 2005. Organized at Philadelphia in August 1861, recruited primarily from fire companies. Wore distinctive Zouave uniforms. Fought at Gettysburg, where the regiment has a prominent battlefield monument. 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. Created during the period of widespread private coinage that arose from the federal coin shortage affecting military camps.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-H5B. 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-H5B