(1861-65) Brass Civil War Sutler Token S-R10B, P. Shannon-John Stanton

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by P. Shannon, sutler to the 85th Regiment. This 10-cent brass token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler to an 85th regiment, issuing brass 5-cent tokens (S-85-5B). Shannon also appears with a John Stanton die sinker attribution on a separate token (S-R10B), indicating his dies were manufactured in Cincinnati. Dies were cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Brass tokens dominated sutler currency production because the alloy combined reasonable cost with the physical durability demanded by camp circulation. Manufactured during the peak years of sutler token production, when camp commerce required a reliable medium of exchange. Military regulations authorized sutlers as licensed camp merchants who supplied soldiers with provisions and personal goods unavailable through standard military rations. Legislative action in 1866 terminated the sutler system, ending a tradition of licensed civilian merchants serving military units.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-R10B. 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-R10B