1861 Medal M&S-5A Brass War of 1861 Dog Tag

Coin Details

Auction Record

$128 XF45 09-02-2023 eBay

Description

This 1861 brass identification tag, cataloged as M&S-5A, is a Civil War-era "dog tag" — a personal identification piece purchased privately by soldiers. The Union Army did not issue standardized identification tags; soldiers bought their own from sutlers or vendors. The "War of 1861" inscription dates this to the earliest months of the conflict. Civil War dog tags are among the most personal military artifacts, directly connecting to a soldier's fear of dying anonymously on a distant battlefield. The M&S catalog identifies military identification pieces. Medal collecting has experienced renewed interest in recent decades as numismatists have recognized these pieces as historical artifacts deserving the same scholarly attention given to coins and currency. These tags are emotionally resonant artifacts of the American Civil War.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. M&S-5A, Civil War brass identification tag. Personal military artifacts are actively collected.

Cross References

PCGS #919890; M&S-5A; Civil War Dog Tag; Brass; War of 1861