(1876) White Metal So-Called Dollar GW-886, HK-98, Long Island

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 MS64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1876 so-called dollar (HK-98) commemorates Long Island. Before the great exposition era, American commemorative medals documented the young republic's infrastructure achievements, from the Erie Canal's 1825 completion to the transcontinental telegraph in 1861. The white metal composition reflects the practical economics of medal production in this era. Tin-based alloys allowed manufacturers to produce large quantities at low cost while maintaining acceptable detail and appearance. Early commemorative medals were produced in small quantities by private die sinkers, with white metal and copper being the most common compositions. Distribution was typically limited to event participants and subscribers. 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

White Metal strikings of HK-98 are moderately 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-98; PCGS #642248; NGC #850188