(1876) Copper Token Pa-Ph 226, Mule w/ Pa-Ph 230 Obv

Coin Details

Auction Record

$144 MS65BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Struck in copper, this die mule (Pa-Ph 226) pairs the Exposition building reverse die showing Memorial Hall, the permanent art gallery structure with the Centennial commemorative die featuring George Washington portrait bust. The Lingg firm created mule combinations by pairing obverse and reverse dies from different merchant or commemorative series, producing distinctive cross-die varieties. As an intentional cross-die pairing, this mule is inherently scarcer than the standard merchant tokens that used each die individually. Struck in copper, a mid-tier composition for Centennial tokens. Copper pieces cost more than white metal but less than brass, offering a balance of durability and visual appeal. 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 226 in copper is a scarce die mule. Mule combinations were produced in smaller quantities than standard merchant tokens, making them prized by advanced Centennial token collectors.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 226; PCGS #694534