1775 So-Called Dollar HK-865b, Continental-Eagle & Heron Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,520 MS64BN 10-10-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

HK-865b is a tin Continental Dollar restrike, reproducing the design whose FUGIO motto and linked-rings reverse later inspired the 1787 Fugio Cent, the first coin authorized by the United States Congress. The Continental Dollar's design legacy extends beyond its own series: the FUGIO sundial and linked-rings motifs were adopted for the 1787 Fugio Cent, the first coin authorized by the United States Congress. Whether Franklin intended the message for Great Britain or for ordinary colonists remains debated. The Bashlow restrikes are collected both as numismatic curiosities and as accessible alternatives to the exceptionally rare 18th-century originals. Prof. Montroville W. Dickeson produced Continental Dollar copies during the 1876 United States Centennial celebration in Philadelphia. Thomas K. DeLorey's planchet analysis corrected the earlier attribution of these pieces to Thomas L. Elder. Dickeson struck pieces primarily in white metal (hundreds) and copper (a few handfuls), with limited production in silver (only 50 according to John W. Haseltine), plus gold, pewter, and lead variants. These Centennial restrikes are cataloged as HK-852 through HK-856. So-called dollars acquired their name because they are not true dollar coins but rather privately issued medals that approximate the size and weight of U.S. silver dollars. The collecting specialty emerged in the early 20th century and was formalized by the Hibler-Kappen catalog, which organized hundreds of diverse pieces — from exposition medals to political tokens to private monetary experiments — into a coherent collecting framework.

Rarity Notes

Continental Dollar variants are collected by specialists in early American numismatics. Copper examples are the most commonly encountered composition.

Cross References

HK-865b; PCGS #643636