(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-765K-1a, J.W. McCarthy PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of J.W. McCarthy, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. With 4 known varieties, J.W. McCarthy produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 765K-1a) is common for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 4 cataloged varieties, J.W. McCarthy was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 765K-1a