(c.1851) Token Miller Pa-234 Copper C.W. Jackson

Coin Details

Description

C.W. Jackson was a coal dealer in Philadelphia whose copper token (Miller Pa-234) dates to approximately 1851. Coal was the fuel of the Industrial Revolution, and Philadelphia served as a primary distribution point for Pennsylvania's vast anthracite coal deposits. Coal dealers were essential intermediaries between the mining regions in northeastern Pennsylvania and the factories, railroads, and households that consumed enormous quantities of fuel. Jackson's token advertised his position in this critical supply chain. Struck in copper, this token matched the federal large cent in appearance and weight, making it immediately recognizable to the public. Copper remained the dominant planchet choice for merchant tokens throughout the antebellum and Civil War periods. Cataloged as Miller Pa-234 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. The dies for merchant tokens were typically cut by professional engravers, though some frontier examples show more primitive workmanship.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller Pa-234.

Cross References

Miller Pa-234