(1876) White Metal Token SJT 1876-6, Samuel J. Tilden Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 MS66DMPL 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This white metal token () was issued as a souvenir of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exposition. This piece circulated among the nearly ten million visitors who attended the Exposition at Fairmount Park from May 10 to November 10, 1876. The tin-lead white metal composition was selected for its economy of production, enabling merchants to afford the large quantities necessary for effective distribution at the crowded Exposition. Centennial merchant tokens overwhelmingly bear the workmanship of the Lingg firm, whose die-sinking expertise made them the default manufacturer for Philadelphia businesses. Centennial merchant tokens combined advertising with souvenir appeal, creating pocket-sized promotions that visitors retained as mementos long after the Exposition closed. 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

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

Cross References

SJT 1876-6; PCGS #617001