(1861) Copper Civil War Sutler Token S-O5C, Zouave-John Stanton

Coin Details

Description

Civil War sutler token issued by Zouave unit (John Stanton die), sutler to the Zouave unit (unidentified specific regiment). This 5-cent copper token served as camp currency, redeemable for goods at the sutler's field store. Sutler token for a Zouave-uniformed regiment, with dies cut by John Stanton of Cincinnati. Multiple Union regiments adopted the distinctive Zouave style — baggy trousers, short jackets, and ornamental headgear inspired by French colonial troops in North Africa. The copper 5-cent piece (S-O5C) dates to 1861, early in the war when Zouave enthusiasm was at its peak. Stanton's Cincinnati workshop produced dies for dozens of sutler tokens during the war, making him the most prolific military token die sinker of the era. 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-O5C. 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-O5C