Illinois. 70th Illinois Regiment. Undated (1861-1865) A.A. Lamb. 5 Cents. Schenkman IL-70-5B (IL-L5B), W-IL-320-005b. Rarity-9. Brass. Plain Edge. MS-62 (PCGS). 17 mm. Somewhat dusky olive surfaces that would probably pop with luster if the natural oils and light surface debris were lifted off. Sharp and very attractive with no obverse distractions. The reverse is also very sharp, with Stantons advertising mark quite bold. A partial ruddy fingerprint is seen at the rim. Far nicer than the Schenkman second edition plate for this denomination. In fact, it is the nicest we have seen. We find only a single example from this issuer in online archives, that being an EF 25-cent in our own February 2015 sale. Clearly a very rare issuer, with all three known denominations listed as R-9. A fairly sharp 25-cent is plated in Schenkman, but this little token is probably a candidate for finest known on the issuer. From the Bill Kelly Collection of Civil War Sutler Tokens. Earlier from the Bill Kelly Collection of Civil War Sutler Tokens.
