1776 So-Called Dollar HK-853, Continental Dollar Copper - Restrike of 1876 Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,100 MS63BN 04-13-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This Continental Dollar restrike (HK-853) reproduces the design of the famous 1776 Continental Currency Dollar, one of the most iconic pieces in early American numismatics. 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. Each HK number represents a distinct combination of design, composition, and die state, creating a collecting framework that rewards careful study and attention to detail. The monetary so-called dollars occupy a special niche within this framework, as they represent not just commemorative art but actual experiments in private coinage, political advocacy through medallic form, and commentary on the great monetary debates that shaped American economic history.

Rarity Notes

The 1876 Centennial restrikes are scarce, produced in limited quantities during the Centennial celebration. Copper examples are the most commonly encountered composition.

Cross References

HK-853; PCGS #643593