1859 So-Called Dollar HK-589c, Nassau Water Works

Coin Details

Description

The 1859 Nassau Water Works so-called dollar (HK-589A) is a local commemorative piece in New York. The tradition of honoring individuals with commemorative medals extends from formal congressional gold medals to locally produced pieces celebrating community leaders, educators, and benefactors. The bronze composition of this piece reflects the medallic tradition dating to classical antiquity. Bronze so-called dollars typically survive in better condition than white metal examples due to the alloy's greater hardness and durability. American commemorative medal manufacturers ranged from the U.S. Mint to small regional die-sinkers, with each firm bringing distinctive artistic approaches and production capabilities to the medallic arts. New York communities from Manhattan to Buffalo produced commemorative medals for a wide range of occasions, reflecting the Empire State's diverse history and its residents' enthusiasm for civic celebration. 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. Pre-1900 local commemorative medals are among the most historically significant in the so-called dollar series, documenting the celebrations of communities still within living memory of their founding or early settlement periods. This piece is a variant of HK-589, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics.

Rarity Notes

Local commemorative so-called dollars from the antebellum period survive in varying quantities. Examples of HK-589A are scarce in the numismatic market.

Cross References

HK-589A; PCGS #643006