(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-O10B, F.A. Packard-John Stanton

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by F.A. Packard. This 10-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler whose tokens were manufactured by John Stanton of Cincinnati. Packard issued brass tokens in 10-cent and 25-cent denominations. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. The brass composition offered a practical balance of durability and cost, producing tokens that could endure the rough conditions of military camp commerce. Produced in the war years when soldiers and sutlers alike depended on token currency for everyday camp transactions. Fewer than 6,000 sutler token pieces are estimated to survive across all varieties, a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of patriotic and store card tokens that exist. Military regulations required sutlers to post their prices and submit to oversight by the regimental council of administration, which could revoke a sutler's license for gouging. 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-O10B. 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-O10B