(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 990A, Dietrich Knoppel

Coin Details

Auction Record

$132 MS63 06-25-2024 eBay

Description

This white metal token (Pa-Ph 990A) was issued as a souvenir of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exposition. Issued by Dietrich Knoppel, this piece circulated among the nearly ten million visitors who attended the Exposition at Fairmount Park from May 10 to November 10, 1876. Struck in white metal, the tin-lead alloy most commonly used for Centennial tokens because its low cost allowed merchants to order large production runs for broad distribution. The Lingg brothers ran the most productive die-sinking shop in Centennial-era Philadelphia, cutting custom advertising dies for merchants across multiple trades. 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 990A in white metal is a collectible Centennial token. Availability depends on the specific die combination and metal composition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 990A; PCGS #525288