1861 HK-11d, Bombardment of Fort Sumter-Type 2 Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,280 MS61 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Cataloged as HK-11d, this 1861 so-called dollar honors Bombardment of Fort Sumter-Type 2. Before the great exposition era, American commemorative medals documented the young republic's infrastructure achievements, from the Erie Canal's 1825 completion to the transcontinental telegraph in 1861. This bronze so-called dollar represents the standard commemorative medal composition of its era. Bronze pieces were often the primary production run, with silver reserved for presentation copies and white metal for budget editions. 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. The HK numbering system established by Hibler and Kappen in 1963 brought order to hundreds of previously uncataloged American commemorative medals, many of which had been ignored by mainstream numismatic references. This piece is a variant of HK-11, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

HK-11d is scarce in the numismatic market. Production quantities for post-Civil War era commemorative medals were typically modest, and survival rates vary significantly based on the original distribution method and the material's durability.

Cross References

HK-11d; PCGS #642031; NGC #851589