(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 710, J. Reed

Coin Details

Description

Issued by J. Reed during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, this white metal token (Pa-Ph 710) advertises a general merchant operating from Philadelphia. A Philadelphia merchant who commissioned five Centennial token varieties spanning Pa-Ph 710-712 in standard and variant die combinations. Five-variety series includes standard and variant combinations. Pa-Ph 710-712 places Reed among mid-range entries. Merchants on tighter budgets gravitated to white metal for its combination of acceptable appearance and significantly lower per-unit cost compared to copper or brass alternatives. Manufactured by Lingg & Bro. of Philadelphia, the firm that produced more Centennial merchant advertising tokens than all other manufacturers combined. The Centennial Exposition of 1876 brought the World's Fair tradition to American shores for the first time, transforming Philadelphia into an international showcase for the centennial of independence.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 710 in white metal is a collectible Centennial merchant token. A Philadelphia merchant who commissioned five Centennial token varieties spanning Pa-Ph 710-712 in standard and variant die combinations. Most examples survive in VF to EF condition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 710; PCGS #600221