(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-I25B, H. Asher

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by H. Asher. This 25-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler who issued brass 25-cent tokens (S-I25B). Asher's tokens are documented in the Schenkman catalog under a letter-prefix designation suggesting uncertain regiment attribution. The brass composition offered a practical balance of durability and cost, producing tokens that could endure the rough conditions of military camp commerce. Created during the wartime period when sutler tokens became indispensable for commercial transactions in army camps. Among the three categories of Civil War tokens — patriotic, store card, and sutler — sutler tokens are by far the scarcest in surviving numbers. Federal legislation in April and June 1864 banned private token production, and the sutler system itself was officially terminated in 1866. 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-I25B. 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-I25B