(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 953, Hart's

Coin Details

Auction Record

$144 MS65 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Hart's issued this white metal souvenir token (Pa-Ph 953) as advertising during the 1876 Centennial. A Philadelphia establishment with two varieties in Pa-Ph 950-953. Possessive suggests named establishment. 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. 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. The Fairmount Park grounds encompassed 285 acres of exhibition space where visitors could encounter the latest in industrial technology, fine arts, and manufactured goods from dozens of nations. The Lingg firm's comprehensive service included die cutting, metal selection, and striking, allowing merchants to order complete runs of customized tokens in their preferred compositions.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 953 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 953; PCGS #903156