<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-15</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000045876</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204047</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PIERCE D HOWARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HARSCO CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 8888</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMP HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17001-8888</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2000.0000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-08-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-08-15</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>274.4030</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>37.445</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>274.4030</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>3029.2370</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>27.9250</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-04-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>41.9200</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-04-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>33.9200</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-04-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Represents deferred compensation under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  Each phantom stock unit represents a right to be paid in cash an amount equal to the fair market value of one share of Harsco Corporation Common Stock at the date of settlement.  The scheduled settlement date for the phantom stock units is in lump sum to commence by January 31, 2010.  Includes reinvested dividends. </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Stock option granted pursuant to 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Plan, in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Mark E. Kimmel, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

