(1876) Copper Token Pa-Ph 976A, Kelly's

Coin Details

Description

Issued by Kelly's during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, this copper token (Pa-Ph 976A) advertises a restaurant and provisions dealer operating from Philadelphia. A Philadelphia restaurant or provisions establishment near the Exposition grounds that issued six token varieties. White metal served dual purposes: advertising and keepsakes. Pa-Ph 970-975 places these in the later merchant series. The copper composition provides a distinctive warm reddish color that develops an attractive brown patina over time. Copper Centennial tokens survive in moderate quantities. Lingg & Bro. produced these dies from their Philadelphia shop, where they maintained an inventory of standard reverses that could be paired with custom merchant obverses. Philadelphia merchants capitalized on the Centennial crowds by commissioning advertising tokens, recognizing that the influx of out-of-town visitors represented a once-in-a-generation marketing opportunity.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 976A in copper is a collectible Centennial merchant token. A Philadelphia restaurant or provisions establishment near the Exposition grounds that issued six token varieties. Most examples survive in VF to EF condition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 976A; PCGS #908450