(1876) Brass Token Pa-Ph 211A, Fred'k Knoppel

Coin Details

Description

This brass token (Pa-Ph 211A) was issued as a souvenir of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exposition. Issued by Fred'k Knoppel, this piece circulated among the nearly ten million visitors who attended the Exposition at Fairmount Park from May 10 to November 10, 1876. The brass composition gave this token an attractive golden appearance, distinguishing it from the more commonly encountered white metal and copper versions of this merchant's series. Manufactured by Lingg & Bro. of Philadelphia, the firm that produced more Centennial merchant advertising tokens than all other manufacturers combined. Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial was the nation's inaugural World's Fair, conceived as both a patriotic celebration of independence and a demonstration of American industrial capability. Merchants who issued Centennial tokens gained a portable advertising medium that visitors would carry home to cities across the nation, extending the token's promotional reach far beyond Philadelphia.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 211A in brass is a collectible Centennial token. Availability depends on the specific die combination and metal composition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 211A; PCGS #876132