JB McHarg Civil War Token
This great example of a JB McHarg Civil War Token is a prime example of what drives me to collect. Looking off the beaten path for neat items to compliment both my or other lure collections is something I’ve always enjoyed. This drive or niche, or thinking outside the proverbial lure box at times has almost been a obsession. Thankfully my adult ADHD doesn’t let me stay grounded too long and off I go tracking down some other piece of knowledge or theory worm hole. Whether it’s paperwork, historical accounts, tidbits of information, photos or what have you, they all allow us the ability to follow the bread crumbs. Being able to piece together information to help complete or assemble a bigger picture.
JB McHarg Civil War Token Photo Gallery
Russell Rulau writes in his reference material titled “United States Tokens 1700-1900 ” 4th edition, Printed in 2004, that examples have both been found struck on Copper and Silver coinage. Using the example cited, as like the 1826 example above, it has been found on a 1819 United States Large Copper Cent, and a Silver 1777 Spanish American Reales 2, a Spanish Colonial coin. For the Large Copper Cent it rates it a RM-7, Very Scarce, 10-19 known examples. The Silver Reales being even more scarce, rates a RM-8, which qualifies it as Rare, with 5-9 examples known to exist.
Neither coin being special unto themselves, the Silver Reales 2 was circulated world wide throughout the many Spanish Colonies. The 1826 Large cent U.S. circulation strike numbers total roughly at about 1.5 million. The cited reference work then goes on to estimate and date its stamping between 1859-1866. This dates puts it into two categories for you numismatists. The categories being US Civil War Tokens and US Merchant Tokens, each having a set time range or space they existed in.
JB McHarg Civil War Token Information
While the date of circulation falls into two different categories for numismatists, it also places it into two different time frames for McHarg or 19th Century Lure collectors. The early portion of that time frame McHarg was by himself, his family and another partner. Being a gun manufacture, champion fly caster, and noted sports writer J.B Mcharg was involved with all matters coupling sporting goods with the outdoors. During this aforementioned period he was also in business with both Jesse Armstrong and James Hildreth. At the later end of that spectrum, we see in 1860 the combination of Hook, Pepper and Company. While his name is not mentioned, McHarg being the senior member of the firm.
One thing is certain, the bits and pieces of the history surrounding the token parallel itself with the scraps of early history known of John Brainard Mcharg. His family was an integral piece of the history of fishing lure puzzle as well as the city of Rome, New York in and of itself. Early lure makers were almost always involved with other activities and sources to provide for and supplement income. I’ve always enjoyed taking each small puzzle piece and assembling them provide a bigger picture even when outside of the antique fishing lure realm.
JB McHarg Shotgun
JB McHarg 1855 Store Ad
