1870 Brass So-Called Dollar HK-15, Pilgrim Jubilee Memorial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 MS64 03-29-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This commemorative so-called dollar (HK-15) from 1870 celebrates Pilgrim Jubilee Memorial. Pike's Peak commemorative medals celebrate the 14,115-foot Colorado summit that became a symbol of westward expansion after Zebulon Pike's 1806 expedition and the 1859 gold rush rallying cry 'Pike's Peak or Bust.' Struck in brass, this piece features the golden-yellow appearance that made the alloy popular for commemorative medals. Brass so-called dollars combine attractive visual appeal with good durability and detail retention. Miscellaneous national commemorative medals were produced by a wide range of manufacturers, from the U.S. Mint to local die-sinkers, covering subjects from presidential inaugurations to infrastructure milestones. The Hibler-Kappen catalog has been updated and expanded since its 1963 first edition, with later researchers adding newly discovered varieties and extending coverage into the modern era.

Rarity Notes

HK-15 is common to moderately 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-15; PCGS #885937; NGC #852391