1826 HK-1, Erie Canal, White Metal Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,880 MS61 07-15-2018 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as HK-1, this 1826 so-called dollar honors Erie Canal. Governor DeWitt Clinton's 1825 'Wedding of the Waters' ceremony — pouring Lake Erie water into New York Harbor — celebrated the Erie Canal's 363-mile route from Albany to Buffalo, the engineering marvel that reduced western freight costs by over 90 percent. Struck in white metal (a tin-based alloy), this piece represents one of the most common compositions for 19th-century commemorative medals. White metal's low cost and attractive silvery appearance made it ideal for mass-distribution commemoratives. Early commemorative medals were produced in small quantities by private die sinkers, with white metal and copper being the most common compositions. Distribution was typically limited to event participants and subscribers. So-called dollars — defined as privately issued medals approximately the size of a silver dollar — encompass one of the most diverse and historically rich collecting fields in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

So-called dollars from the early 19th century were produced in limited quantities for distribution at events or through numismatic channels. White Metal examples of HK-1 are moderately scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-1; PCGS #642001; NGC #850001