1876 So-Called Dollar HK-34a, Liberty Bell Dollar

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-34a, this 1876 so-called dollar honors Liberty Bell. 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. Bronze examples of so-called dollars offer collectors an excellent balance of affordability, condition, and aesthetic appeal. The alloy's hardness produces sharp strikes with fine detail that survives handling better than softer metals. 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. Barber's engraving style combined classical European training with American patriotic iconography, producing medals of exceptional technical quality. 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-34, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-34a are scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Post-Civil War era commemorative medals survive in varying numbers depending on original mintage and subsequent preservation. Variant types are generally scarcer than the primary issue.

Cross References

HK-34a; PCGS #642092; NGC #851800