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Obverse Design
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Says "COMPANY L" curving along the top. Says "FIFTH INFANTRY" curving along the
bottom. In the center is a design of crossed rifles with a "5" above the cross
and an "L" below. Close to the rim is a circle of beads.
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Reverse Design
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Says "GOOD FOR" curving along the top. Three stars curve along each side towards the
bottom. There is a large "5" in the center. Under the denomination and going
straight across is the word "CENTS". Close to the rim is a circle of beads.
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Metal
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Aluminum.
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Weight
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Unknown.
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Size and Shape
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Round, 24 mm in diameter.
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Dates Issued
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1914-1918.
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Issuer
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Fifth Infantry (5th Infantry Co. L) located at Camp Empire.
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Mintage
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Unknown.
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Rarity
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Very Rare.
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Manufacturer
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Unknown.
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Other Catalog Numbers
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Cunningham's CZ180.
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Varieties
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None known.
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Function
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Perhaps a post exchange token.
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Historical Note
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The Fifth Infantry was stationed at Empire from November 1914 until
the summer of 1918. They returned in 1939 and were stationed at
Camp Paraiso from 1939 to 1943. Unit crests were adopted by United
States military units after 1922. Before that, crossed rifles and
the unit number was used. So most likely this token is from before 1922,
and it has been attributed by Cunningham to the 1914-1918 period.
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Population Count
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Two specimens in collector hands are known to me.
Recent sales include:
- Auction sale on ebay on April 7, 2002 for $144 plus $1 shipping of
the specimen above (AG-3 condition).
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