BOOK REVIEW: CIVIL WAR SUTLER TOKENS, 2ND EDITION

A few days ago, I received a copy of the new book, Civil War Sutler Tokens & Cardboard Scrip, by David Schenkman, edited by Richard Irons. Being a Sutler token collector for many years, I have been looking forward to an up to date second edition for quite a long time and I was not disappointed.

The first twenty pages gives the reader a precise and clear introduction to the business at hand. Included are a Preface, Introduction, Acknowledgements, followed by a discourse on the Civil War Sutler and his tokens. We have rarities and valuation information, along with a listing of Sutler diesinkers and ending with a cross reference list. A tremendous amount of information is included and we’ve yet to get to the heart of the book.

The catalog section of the book covers 170 pages. A new numbering system is implemented and I feel it is an improvement over the old numbering system as it leaves room for new discoveries. All of the tokens are pictured in color with many (if not most) of the tokens being the finest known. Each token has an approximate valuation in several different grades courtesy of Steve Hayden. Many new discoveries are included since the first edition originally published in 1983.

Finally, the section on cardboard scrip completes the final 40 pages. Wonderful color pictures of these seldom seen pieces abound.

Civil War Sutler tokens, along with cardboard scrip are some of the rarest and infrequently seen items in the exonumia field. This book will get you up to date with these fascinating pieces of Americana. The retail price of $100 is not inexpensive but is well worth it if you have even a small interest in Sutler tokens and cardboard scrip.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: CIVIL WAR SUTLER TOKENS, 2ND EDITION (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n51a05.html)

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