(1876) White Metal Token Pa Ph-778, Jas. Thornton

Coin Details

Description

Issued by Jas. Thornton during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, this white metal token (Pa Ph-778) advertises a general merchant operating from Philadelphia. James Thornton, a Philadelphia merchant with four distinct die varieties spanning Pa-Ph 774-778. Jas. abbreviation standard 19th-century convention. 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. Lingg & Bro. ran the primary token manufacturing operation for Philadelphia's Centennial merchant community. Collectors organize Centennial tokens by the Rulau catalog system, where each state prefix (Pa-Ph for Philadelphia, NY-NY for New York) is followed by a sequential number identifying the specific merchant or issuer.

Rarity Notes

Pa Ph-778 in white metal is a collectible Centennial merchant token. James Thornton, a Philadelphia merchant with four distinct die varieties spanning Pa-Ph 774-778. Most examples survive in VF to EF condition.

Cross References

; PCGS #615257