1878 HK-120c, Wyoming Massacre Centennial Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,260 MS62 12-07-2019 Heritage Auctions

Description

Designated HK-120c in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1878 piece commemorates Wyoming Massacre Centennial. George Washington's legacy generated numerous centennial medals, including pieces for the 1889 centennial of his presidential inauguration in New York and the 1899 centennial of his death at Mount Vernon. 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. Revolutionary War centennial medals were produced both by the U.S. Mint (official congressional issues) and private die sinkers. Many were distributed at ceremony sites to attendees and dignitaries. Harold Hibler and Charles Kappen spent decades cataloging American dollar-sized medals, creating a reference work that transformed a scattered collecting field into an organized numismatic specialty. This piece is a variant of HK-120, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

HK-120c is 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-120c; PCGS #642310; NGC #851815