GREAT token

[Boilermaker27]

I don't hunt coins and I don't hunt tokens. Who hunts tokens? They just pop up now and then. Last night while working out a worked out civil war site I stumbled upon a super token. This one is hard to beat. This site has produced a ton of relics and there is still a small amount left, but you have to work for it and that is what I did. This token is dated on the reverse 1861. Thanks Tesoro Tejon, you are the best relic machine out there, I luv you.

 

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[Mackaydon]

Some history:
Sutler tokens were a special kind of Store Card that was issued by sutlers who supplied the Union Army. A sutler was a vendor who followed the army and sold provisions and luxury goods such as are found in our modern day PX or post exchange. He supplied tobacco, candy, dried fruit, canned goods, writing materials (and sometimes liquor) to the soldier who could afford the high priced goods. Many of the sutlers of this era issued metal tokens to insure themselves the trade of soldiers to whom they extended credit. These tokens ranged from 3¢ to $1 with both the sutler's name and the soldier's regiment listed.

 

[Mackaydon]

Civil War tokens are divided into three types—store cards, patriotic tokens, and sutler tokens.

Sutler tokens are similar to store cards. Rather than listing the name of a private business, however, these tokens bore the name of a particular army unit (usually a regiment) and the name of the sutler who conducted transactions with the regiment. Of the three types of Civil War tokens, sutler tokens are by far the rarest. (per Wikipedia)

 

[Mackaydon]

I keep learning:

The Sutler's Stores were commissioned by the War Department to Supply Sundries to the Troops, usually positioned near the Forts and large camps.

Your token suggests "H. Lester" may be the sutler and he was connected to the 5th ..........(artillery?)--just a WAG.

The pic in the reference below shows soldiers visiting a Sutler's Store during the CW in Culpepper, Va. (scroll down to enlarged pic).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Civil-War-Print...dZViewItemQQptZArt_Prints?hash=item5d26663b61

 

[Boilermaker27]

Great token, great input from you guys.

I did a scan of the other side of the token. The other side is a bit deteriorated, however, the date and the letters AGO on the right side of the token are clearly visible. There are also remnants of the letter C further up and I am almost positive the word is Chicago. In the center is a mans bent arm holding a hammer. The left side of the token is deteriorated a bit and I am afraid to do anything to try and read that side. I may blow the picture up way larger and see if I can make out any lettering. However the backside is really in nice condition. I am thrilled.

 

[Mackaydon]

That side will read: Childs Manfr. Chicago.
The image is noted in Rulau as 'reverse die photo' #1390 (page 448)

 

[fifty8cal]

great looking token joe.make my 1860 o dime look bad now,ha

 

[Mackaydon]

The full name was "Child's Manufacturer of Advertising Coins". They placed their name on one side and the sutler and the regiment he serviced were on the other.
A couple of Child's other token pics are found on this page:
http://www.shigitatsu.com/CWT/illinois_civil_war_store_cards.htm

 

[tokensmith]

Your token is listed in Schenkman's sutler token book as IL K5B and listed as an R9 (1-4 known). The 51st R. Ill. V. is undoubtedly the 51st Regular Illinois Volunteers.

 

[vibes]

I don't hunt coins and I don't hunt tokens. Who hunts tokens? They just pop up now and then. Last night while working out a worked out civil war site I stumbled upon a super token. This one is hard to beat. This site has produced a ton of relics and there is still a small amount left, but you have to work for it and that is what I did. This token is dated on the reverse 1861. Thanks Tesoro Tejon, you are the best relic machine out there, I luv you.

Wow, you are quite the token 'snob'...I adore tokens as they are a TRUE connection to our past. Period. It don't get much more Americana than that. really. Except perhaps bag and railroad tags specific to the USA.

I embrace them with much gusto

 

[intimer]

i don't know the sutler tokens other than they are very collectible!
condition matters. be careful whether to clea it or not. check out first.

i collect the coal and lumber tokens condition is not my first priority.

 

[Mackaydon]

The Fifty-first Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, December 24, 1861, by Colonel Gilbert W. Cumming. Their history is noted here: http://www.51illinois.org/page4.html

 

[Boilermaker27]

fifty8cal, I was with you when you found that half dime last week in the highway median. Soon the highway is set to reopen and traffic will again flow and it will be off limits. Too bad the grass is so high because that median is loaded. I know it's loaded because after 35 years of a major interstate highway and hardly any signals, and our searchcoils eight inches off the ground because of the grass, it is just there. Your 1860 "O" is nice. Also, talked with Doug and he wants you and I to meet him next time at the token spot, maybe in two weeks?

 

[cwlead]

Joe: when you and fifty8cal get ready to go again please give me a call if I'm not working I'm raring to go. you guys wore me out Friday but it didn't take long to recover, raring to go again, congratolation on the great token Roger

 

[seger98]

That's an awesome token you found there!

 

[intimer]

i don't know anything about this type of token except it is really good and should be researched.

mike