(1876) Brass Token Pa-Ph 786A, John E. Vallee

Coin Details

Description

Struck in brass for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition, this token (Pa-Ph 786A) was commissioned by John E. Vallee, confectioner and baker of Philadelphia. A Philadelphia confectioner who issued seven Centennial token varieties, placing him among the most prolific individual issuers. Multiple die combinations reflect the flexibility of Lingg production system. White metal variants are most commonly encountered as mass-distributed advertising. Struck in brass (a copper-zinc alloy), a premium composition for Centennial tokens. The golden color made brass pieces stand out among the more common white metal and copper tokens. Struck from dies by the Lingg firm, whose central Philadelphia location gave them direct access to the merchants seeking Centennial advertising pieces. As the first World's Fair on American soil, the 1876 Centennial served the dual purpose of commemorating national independence and establishing the United States as a global industrial power.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 786A in brass is a collectible Centennial merchant token. A Philadelphia confectioner who issued seven Centennial token varieties, placing him among the most prolific individual issuers. Most examples survive in VF to EF condition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 786A; PCGS #669773