1873 So-Called Dollar HK-1003, San Francisco Mint Press

Coin Details

Description

The 1873 San Francisco Mint Press so-called dollar (HK-1003) is a commemorative piece from the Washington Monument & Miscellaneous National series. 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 bronze, this piece showcases the detailed die work typical of American commemorative medals. Bronze's natural patina gives aged examples an appealing warm-brown surface that collectors prize. 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, first published in 1963 by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen, systematically organized American so-called dollars for the first time, assigning HK numbers that remain the standard reference today.

Rarity Notes

Strikings of HK-1003 are scarce. Post-Civil War era medals were often distributed at events, with many entering circulation as pocket pieces rather than being preserved as collectibles.

Cross References

HK-1003; PCGS #643759; NGC #851630