(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 722, N.H. Rice

Coin Details

Auction Record

$40 AU55 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Struck in white metal for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition, this token (Pa-Ph 722) was commissioned by N.H. Rice, general merchant of Philadelphia. A Philadelphia merchant who issued five Centennial token varieties spanning Pa-Ph 720-723 and Pa-Ph 930, with dual catalog placement reflecting separate reference sections. Five varieties made Rice prolific among individuals. Dual catalog placement reflects separate sections. The white metal composition places this piece among the most accessible category of Centennial tokens for modern collectors. White metal's affordability removed the cost barrier to generous distribution, and merchants gave tokens to any visitor who entered their establishment. 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's 1876 Centennial was the nation's inaugural World's Fair, conceived as both a patriotic celebration of independence and a demonstration of American industrial capability.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 722 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

Pa-Ph 722; PCGS #908432