(1861-65) White Metal Civil War Sutler Token S-A50WM, J.J. Benson

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by J.J. Benson, sutler to the 1st Mounted Rifles, New York. This white metal token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler to the 1st Mounted Rifles. Issued tokens in multiple denominations. The Mounted Rifles served primarily in the Eastern Theater of operations. Operated as mobile infantry capable of fighting mounted or dismounted. White metal (a tin-based alloy) was an inexpensive alternative to brass. Its softness means surviving examples often show significant wear. Created during the wartime period when sutler tokens became indispensable for commercial transactions in army camps. Sutler tokens rank as the rarest category in the Civil War token series, with far fewer surviving examples than either patriotic or store card types. Federal prohibition of private tokens in 1864 halted new sutler token production, and the 1866 abolition of the sutler system closed this chapter of military commerce permanently. 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-A50WM. All sutler tokens are rated R-5 or higher on the Fuld rarity scale (fewer than 200 surviving examples of any given variety). White metal strikes are scarce for sutler tokens. An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 sutler token pieces survive across all varieties.

Cross References

Schenkman S-A50WM