(1876) White Metal Token NY-NY 732B, Great Union Pacific Tea Co.

Coin Details

Description

Struck in white metal for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition, this token (NY-NY 732B) was commissioned by Great Union Pacific Tea Co., tea merchant and grocery chain of New York City, at 77-81 Courtlandt Street. One of the largest tea distributors in the 1870s United States, using Centennial tokens as advertising premiums. Centennial tokens doubled as advertising for their mail-order tea business. Great Union Pacific Tea predated A&P but operated on a similar wholesale-to-retail model. White metal production costs were a fraction of those for copper or brass, allowing merchants to spread their advertising budgets across greater quantities of tokens. Manufactured by Lingg & Bro. of Philadelphia, the primary source for custom merchant tokens during the 1876 Centennial celebrations. 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

NY-NY 732B in white metal is encountered with moderate frequency in the Centennial token market. Condition census runs from well-worn to occasional choice examples.

Cross References

NY-NY 732B; PCGS #525315