View All Philadelphia Centennial Tokens (1876)

(1876) White Metal Token SJT 1876-7, Samuel J. Tilden Campaign

Strike Type
(1876) White Metal Token SJT 1876-7, Samuel J. Tilden Campaign

Coin Details

Year
1876
Denomination
Tokens
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Rulau Tokens (1700-1900)
Composition
White Metal
Weight
3.5g
Diameter
19mm

Auction Record

$180 MS65 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. White metal's low material cost made it the practical choice for merchants wanting to distribute tokens broadly among the Centennial's enormous visitor base. The Lingg brothers ran the most productive die-sinking shop in Centennial-era Philadelphia, cutting custom advertising dies for merchants across multiple trades. The appeal of Centennial tokens lay in their dual function — merchants gained advertising that traveled with visitors back to their home cities, while visitors acquired an affordable, lasting souvenir. Centennial souvenir tokens served dual purposes: they were portable advertisements for the issuing merchants and collectible mementos of the Exposition for visitors to carry home.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

SJT 1876-7; PCGS #535727

External References

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