1876 Bronze So-Called Dollar HK-118b, Washington-Grant Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,120 MS64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

HK-118b is a 1876 so-called dollar commemorating Washington-Grant. The Centennial generated the largest single group of so-called dollars in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, with medals struck by the U.S. Mint, private manufacturers, and foreign exhibitors in dozens of metallic compositions. 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. The U.S. Mint struck official Centennial medals designed by William Barber, while private firms produced hundreds of additional varieties. The Centennial group is the largest in the HK catalog. William Barber designed the official U.S. Mint medals for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, establishing the standard for American exposition medal artistry. 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. This piece is a variant of HK-118, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

So-called dollars from the post-Civil War era were produced in limited quantities for distribution at events or through numismatic channels. Bronze examples of HK-118b are common to moderately scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-118b; PCGS #642298; NGC #851875