(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-P5B, S. Whited & Co

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by S. Whited & Co., sutler to the 97th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This 5-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler firm serving the 97th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Their 1863-dated 10-cent tokens feature an Indian Head obverse paired with a patriotic design, blurring the line between sutler and patriotic tokens. Participated in the Vicksburg Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea. The choice of brass reflected practical manufacturing considerations — the alloy struck cleanly from dies, resisted environmental damage, and cost less to produce than copper or silver. Produced during the war years when sutler tokens served as essential camp currency across Union military installations. These tokens preserve a record of the commercial relationships between soldiers and the civilian merchants who served them. Each token circulated among soldiers of a specific regiment, giving surviving pieces a direct connection to identifiable military units.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-P5B. 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-P5B