(1861) Copper Civil War Sutler Token S-M50C, Simmonds-J.M. Kerr

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by J.M. Kerr, sutler to the Simmonds Battery, Kentucky. This 50-cent copper token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler to Simmonds Battery, a Kentucky artillery unit. Artillery batteries, being smaller than infantry regiments, rarely had their own sutlers, making battery-specific sutler tokens uncommon. A Kentucky artillery battery serving in the Western Theater. Copper was the second most common metal for sutler tokens, producing pieces with a distinctive reddish surface that often tones to brown over time. Dated 1861, produced early in the war before token usage became widespread in military camps. Sutler tokens provide a direct window into the economic life of Civil War military camps and the soldiers who lived in them. These tokens passed through the hands of soldiers in specific military installations, creating artifacts tied to particular units and campaigns.

Rarity Notes

Schenkman S-M50C. All sutler tokens are rated R-5 or higher on the Fuld rarity scale (fewer than 200 surviving examples of any given variety). In copper, 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-M50C