(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 258, Mule w/ Pa-Ph 229 Obv

Coin Details

Description

Struck in white metal, this die mule (Pa-Ph 258) pairs the Lingg & Co. die variant with alternate layout and text arrangement with the Centennial commemorative die with Liberty Bell design, the central symbol of the Exposition. Produced at the Lingg & Bro. shop at 36 North 8th Street in Philadelphia, mule tokens were created as special collector pieces by combining dies from unrelated token series. As an intentional cross-die pairing, this mule is inherently scarcer than the standard merchant tokens that used each die individually. The white metal composition made this the most economical version of this merchant's Centennial token. White metal tokens survive in the largest numbers because they were produced and distributed in enormous quantities. The Rulau catalog assigns each Centennial token a geographic prefix and number — Pa-Ph for Philadelphia issues, NY-NY for New York — with separate entries for each metal variant of a given die.

Rarity Notes

As a die mule, Pa-Ph 258 in white metal is inherently scarcer than standard single-issuer tokens. These cross-die combinations were created as collector novelties by Lingg & Bro.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 258; PCGS #694524