(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 830, Applegate's Galleries

Coin Details

Auction Record

$125 MS62 04-28-2024 eBay

Description

This white metal token (Pa-Ph 830) was issued as a souvenir of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exposition. Issued by Applegate's Galleries, this piece circulated among the nearly ten million visitors who attended the Exposition at Fairmount Park from May 10 to November 10, 1876. Produced in white metal, reflecting the composition that accounts for the majority of surviving Centennial merchant tokens. Merchants could afford to distribute white metal tokens liberally because the per-piece cost was negligible compared to the potential advertising return. The die work originated from the Lingg establishment in central Philadelphia, which operated at peak capacity throughout the Centennial year to meet merchant demand. The six months of the Centennial brought close to ten million visitors through the Fairmount Park gates, each a potential customer for the merchants and vendors surrounding the Exposition grounds. Token varieties ranged from inexpensive white metal pieces distributed freely to visitors, through mid-range copper and brass issues, to rare silver presentation pieces for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 830 in white metal is a collectible Centennial token. Availability depends on the specific die combination and metal composition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 830; PCGS #525272