1876 Bronze So-Called Dollar HK-21, US Centennial Expo-Official Dollar

Coin Details

Description

Bronze was the everyday metal of the official medal of the 1876 Centennial in Philadelphia. Hibler and Kappen record that HK-21, like the gilt HK-22, came from the Philadelphia Mint and sold for fifty cents, while the silver HK-20 was struck at the Mint's exhibit on the fairgrounds and cost three dollars. The Centennial Board of Finance issued the medal in two sizes under authority of the 43rd Congress; only the smaller one is catalogued as a dollar. William Barber engraved both sides. The obverse shows the Genius of American Independence pushing herself up from a reclining pose, a sword in her right hand and her left raised to thirteen blazing stars, with 1776 below and the legend "These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States" around. The dies were destroyed when the fair closed. Julian CM-10. Bronze, 38 mm.

Cross References

HK-21; PCGS #642057; NGC #850056