(1876) White Metal Token Pa-Ph 997, Diertrich Knoppel

Coin Details

Description

This white metal token (Pa-Ph 997) was issued as a souvenir of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exposition. Issued by Diertrich Knoppel, this piece circulated among the nearly ten million visitors who attended the Exposition at Fairmount Park from May 10 to November 10, 1876. As the most economical composition, white metal tokens were produced in the largest numbers and distributed most broadly, making them the most accessible Centennial souvenirs. Made by the Lingg die-sinking establishment, which had positioned itself as the primary supplier of merchant tokens for the Centennial. The Centennial transformed Philadelphia's retail landscape in 1876, bringing foot traffic and revenue to merchants who had never experienced anything approaching the volume of business the Exposition generated. Centennial token collectors use the Rulau catalog numbering system, which identifies each token by geographic origin and assigns separate entries for different metal compositions of the same die pair.

Rarity Notes

Pa-Ph 997 in white metal is a collectible Centennial token. Availability depends on the specific die combination and metal composition.

Cross References

Pa-Ph 997; PCGS #913756