I recently was going through my pennys that I bought at a bank and I found this!. And I have no idea what it is or worth.... Help please?!?!?! on the back it says. -- pittsburg drygood grocerys, hardwear
It is a Civil War Store Card(token). Used in place of cash because of coin hoarding during the war. Fairly common, up to 5,000 known. XF=$8.00 UNC= $15.00. This is from a 1997 book. Perhaps someone has more up to date prices. Nice find!.
Not sure where Timewarp got his information but on page 500 of my copy of "U.S. Civil War Store Cards" by George and Melvin Fuld, Second Edition, Copyright 1975 lists your token: Pittsburgh PA 765R-3a, Reverse 1409, Copper, Plain Edge, Rarity 2. The PA is for Pennsylvania The 765 is the City number for Pittsburgh R is the Merchant letter 3a is the variety of that Merchant's tokens. This merchant issued six tokens in total, three of which used different "Thistle" designs. Reverse 1409 is one of four very similar reverse dies. Your picture allowed me to determine that die 1409 is the correct ID. Rarity 2. The rarity scale used for Civil War Tokens was first developed by the Fulds. Page IV of the Introduction of the above book shows R-2 as "Between 2,000 and 5,000 Estimated Number In Existence" The Fuld reference does not list values, in fact any Civil War Token book that does should be questioned. I recommend you become familiar with searching completed auction on-line to find comparable tokens and their sale price. Personally I wouldn't pay over $20-$25 Retail for a average circulated R-2 token.
My info came from the Standard Catalog of United States Tokens 1700-1900, 2nd edition. Russel Rulau. I'd like to have a Fuld book for reference.
Bill hit it on the head with his explanation . He knows his CWTs . But on ebay I'd think you'd get a little more . I see R-1 s in the same shape reaching $40-50 and if you get 2 bidiots $75 and more is possible . Me , if I needed the store card I'd bid $30-40 .
If you join the Civil War Token Collector Society for $15 , you'd save more than that if you bought both the Patriotic and Store cards books . They really are a must have for the serious CWT collector . Though Rulaus book is a must have for tokens in general .
True there is some risk. Using the OP's description of the obverse text, Fuld notes the varieties as different metals, and different reverses. The reverse pic provided is one of four "Thistle" style dies,which matched the obverse text. That merchant used several different Thistle reverses.
