(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 831, Applegate's Galleries

Coin Details

Description

This white metal token (Pa-Ph 831) 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. White metal offered the lowest production cost per piece, making it the default choice for merchants who prioritized wide distribution over the visual appeal of costlier metals. Manufactured by Lingg & Bro. of Philadelphia, whose workshop became synonymous with Centennial merchant token production during 1876. The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 marked the first time the United States hosted an official World's Fair, using the occasion to display a century of national achievement. Memorial Hall, the Exposition's permanent art gallery, was the only major building designed to survive the fair and remains standing in Fairmount Park as a lasting architectural legacy of the Centennial.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 831 in white metal is a collectible Centennial token. Availability depends on the specific die combination and metal composition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 831; PCGS #913751