1882 Brass So-Called Dollar HK-138, Pennsylvania Bicentennial

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-138, this 1882 so-called dollar honors Pennsylvania Bicentennial. The Ohio Valley centennial medals of 1888 document the settlement of the Northwest Territory, commemorating the arrival of the first organized American settlers at Marietta, Ohio in April 1788. Struck in brass, this piece features the golden-yellow appearance that made the alloy popular for commemorative medals. Brass so-called dollars combine attractive visual appeal with good durability and detail retention. State and regional medals were typically commissioned by local committees and struck by private manufacturers. Silver and white metal compositions predominate. 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.

Rarity Notes

HK-138 is common to moderately scarce in the numismatic market. Production quantities for Gilded Age commemorative medals were typically modest, and survival rates vary significantly based on the original distribution method and the material's durability.

Cross References

HK-138; PCGS #642372; NGC #850253