(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 930, N.H. Rice

Coin Details

Description

Issued by N.H. Rice during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, this white metal token (Pa-Ph 930) advertises a general merchant operating from 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. Dual catalog placement reflects separate sections. Pa-Ph 930 alongside white-metal merchant series. 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. Dies for this merchant token were produced at the Lingg workshop on North 8th Street, which served as the central production facility for Centennial advertising pieces. Philadelphia's population effectively doubled during the Centennial's run, as nearly ten million visitors created a souvenir market that merchant tokens were perfectly positioned to serve.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 930 in white metal is a collectible Centennial merchant token. 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. Most examples survive in VF to EF condition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 930; PCGS #668060