When did a beer cost 2.5 cents?

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Decided to hit a cleared area (pipeline) 20’ from a cellar hole I have been hitting. It’s got some modern trash and hunters bullets galore which are painful vs focusing just on this little pristine time capsule 1850 cellar hole I’ve been pounding.

Best find is an old trade token.



Decent backmark on a flat button.


Here is the lunch hunt handful.


Good luck out there!

 

[HighVDI]

Nice! Definitely a great variety there. That token is sweet and those old square nails are awesome finds too. Wonder if it was in a fire to come out so nice...?

 

[GaRebel1861]

That’s a really nice token.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Nice! Definitely a great variety there. That token is sweet and those old square nails are awesome finds too. Wonder if it was in a fire to come out so nice...?

Thx! I dig my share of rusty square nails, so when a pristine one pops out every month of so I think they are cool. I believe these pristine ones are a combination of being fire “treated” when the home burned down a century ago and high copper content in the iron, but definitely sticks to a magnet like iron.

 

[Kray Gelder]

I found a schooner of beer in Boston, 1878, cost 5 cents.

 

[jeff of pa]

most likly just 2 1/2 cents off.

& Since 1/2 cent needs to be Rounded up or Down
it could cause Arguments. I'd say probably Pre 1858

1857 was the last year 1/2 cent pieces were Minted. Not sure how long they were still in Circulation.

So it could be Newer but Less Likely

 

[thrifty76now]

Nice finds all.

 

[Rookster]

Nice finds.Congrats on the token.

 

[creskol]

The cafe was there in 1903, but when it was established, I don't know.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

The cafe was there in 1903, but when it was established, I don't know.

Can you share the research link on the 1903, tax records? Thx

 

[jeff of pa]

I checked for Newspaper Ads, They apparently Didn't Advertise

 

[HighVDI]

Definitely pre 1911 as the spelling of Pittsburgh was the old one.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Sweet relics, nice saves!

 

[jeff of pa]

there was a James M. Graham in Pittsburg 1890



https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

 

[Steve in PA]

That is a cool token Thad. Based on other examples of similar tokens, I would say it's circa 1900. It's nothing like the Civil War "store card" tokens or even the 1840s Pittsburg Literary Depot token that we both found. However, despite the "official" period that Pittsburgh was spelled without the H (1891 to 1911) https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/about-pittsburgh/history/the-pittsburgh-h/ I have found a number of mid 19th century examples of Pittsburgh spelled without the "H"

Ironically, today, November 27, 2018, is the 250th anniversary of the naming of Pittsburgh!

 

[Johncoho]

That token is really cool. 2 1/2 cents for a beer would have to put it way back there.

 

[maceman66]

I found around here that the pool halls would charge 2 and a half cents to rent a cue, you would give them a nickel and get a token in exchange so in the end the bar got your whole nickel.

 

[washingtonian]

Wow, I really like that token. The war nickel is neat too!!

 

[against the wind]

The token is a very cool find,,
Congratulations

 

[Whyme]

Very cool token! I wish beer was 2.5 cents now! lol Congrats!