(1876) White Metal So-Called Dollar GW-890, HK-110, Fort Washington

Coin Details

Auction Record

$480 MS64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

HK-110 is a 1876 so-called dollar commemorating Fort Washington. 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. This white metal piece is part of the most common compositional category for so-called dollars of its era. Despite being the most affordable composition at issue, white metal's softness means well-preserved examples can be elusive. 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. Collectors of so-called dollars pursue pieces by exposition, metal type, engraver, geographic region, or historical theme, with complete sets of certain exposition groups being particularly prized accomplishments.

Rarity Notes

HK-110 is moderately scarce in the numismatic market. Production quantities for post-Civil War era commemorative medals were typically modest, and survival rates vary significantly based on the original distribution method and the material's durability.

Cross References

HK-110; PCGS #642268; NGC #850202