(1876) Copper Token Pa Ph-256, Lingg & Co. Mule w/Pa-Ph 231 Obv.

Coin Details

Description

A copper mule token (Pa Ph-256), this piece was created by pairing the Lingg & Co. alternate trade name die used on later token issues and the Centennial commemorative die with Independence Hall facade. Lingg & Bro., the Centennial's principal token manufacturer, created these mule combinations by intentionally pairing dies from different token series. Mule combinations were produced in limited quantities, making them sought after by advanced Centennial token collectors. The copper composition provides a distinctive warm reddish color that develops an attractive brown patina over time. Copper Centennial tokens survive in moderate quantities. Approximately ten million people visited the Centennial grounds in Fairmount Park during its six-month run, generating enormous demand for affordable keepsakes that merchants were eager to supply.

Rarity Notes

As a die mule, Pa Ph-256 in copper is inherently scarcer than standard single-issuer tokens. These cross-die combinations were created as collector novelties by Lingg & Bro.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 231; PCGS #615258