Cool Pittsburgh 1922 Railway Token

This is part of the collection I am cataloging. I know nothing about value on this token but I know it is a really cool piece. If you collect tokens let me know what you know on this piece. Hope you enjoy! Thanks

 

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I'm a Pennsy Boy so I immediately love the piece Darryl. Clueless as to value but it looks 'way cool'........

 

Agree Ken, Lots of history in that piece! Cool colors too!

 

The token is really cool because it names the city, the date and what it's good for. Problem is there were a ton of them made so they're not really worth that much. Check out ebay for comparison prices, I think I paid around $5 for mine. Nice piece!@

 

I think fretboard has the value about right Darryl. I have one somewhere in my collection of tokens. Still one of the nicer transportation tokens around though.

Bruce

 

I live in the Pittsburgh area and see these all the time at flea markets. I think I paid between 50 cents and two bucks for the ones I have.

 

Atwood's lists this as

Pittsburg 765 Z o B Tr-s PITTSBURGH RAILWAY CO. 1922 (STREETCAR), Good For One Fare 3 3.

Short Id would be 765-Z

The 765-0z was made from 1222 until WW II when there was a shortage of brass. 765-AA was made from the same dies but struck in Steel. After the war the went back to striking in brass. There is no way to tell pre war 765-Z's from post war 765-Z's. The 765-Z was used until Jan. 5, 1948 and is considered common.

To better understand the numbering system:
765= the code given to Pittsburg
Z= 26th token cataloged for Pittsburgh
o= obsolete
B=Brass
Tr-sc= Triangle stencil cut

Richard

 

As a "common" trans. token the price of 50 cents to a dollar would be about right.

 

It may depict the Heinz trolley ?

 

Very cool token, like the trolley with the pantograph - remember riding some similar trolleys in Boston when I was a kid.

 

Thanks Richard ~ and everyone else! I had a feeling it was common but like the piece regardless. It's a neat part of the city's history.

 

Richard states above that the token was issued beginning in 1922, and Darryl's token displays that date. My question is, did they use the '22 date for the entire run of these tokens or did they change the date from time to time?

 

Ken, Based on this part from Richard I would assume the date never changed. Kind of odd though that they wouldn't update the dates over time.

 

That little tidbit flew right over my head Darryl.

Thanks.....

 

Most tokens are ordered in batches of a 1000. This one would have been ordered in much larger batches since it was used so widely. Each batch willlook a little different since usually dies are recut with each order. While the token is considered common there are some tougher varieties and some varieties which are tough in high grade. All varieties of this are tough in Unc for instance. Some varieties are heavily worn.

There are about 100 TT's that are extremely common and wholesale about a nickel. This one is only slightly less common. A rather extensive collection can be put together on a shoestring because there are surprisingly few collectors. If there are a few hundred of an issue then you can find it for a dollar or less with patience. Joining the AVA will connect you to the market for these tokens.

The pictured token is a later more common issue in typical condition, I believe. This is just from looking at it though and my memory isn't what it once was.

 

I also grew up in the Pittsburgh area so this is cool to see.

 

My Token is 1924, and I have a steel one no date, with two semi-circles.

 

thank you for the info. I found one in a coin collection at my parents house. The coin is pretty cool design.

 

I have one as well, I never lived in Pitts, must have found it somewhere, although I've no idea where, Very cool design. Tr-sc= Triangle stencil cut (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/cool-pittsburgh-1922-railway-token.233407/)