"1883" Hawaiian Fantasy Strike - Eighth Dollar, Bronze

Coin Details

Auction Record

$48,875 PR66 03-22-2012 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1883 Hawaiian 1/8 Dollar Fantasy Strike in bronze is a complete (obverse and reverse) fantasy coin produced using dies for the hapawalu denomination. Unlike the uniface hub impressions that show only one side, this piece presents a fully struck coin with both obverse and reverse designs, giving collectors a complete picture of what the unissued hapawalu would have looked like had it entered circulation. The hapawalu (12-1/2 cents) denomination was unique to the Hawaiian coinage proposal and had no exact American equivalent, though it corresponded to the Spanish colonial real or bit (one-eighth of a dollar) that had circulated widely in the Pacific. The survival of this denomination in the Hawaiian proposal reflected the continued influence of the Spanish colonial monetary system in Pacific Island commerce. The bronze composition distinguishes this fantasy strike from the silver or nickel compositions that would have been used for an official hapawalu. Fantasy strikes were commonly produced in copper or bronze as proof-of-concept pieces, test strikes, or collector items, with the base metal composition keeping costs low while showcasing the die work.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Bronze fantasy strikes of the hapawalu are scarce but somewhat more available than the individual hub impressions. PCGS #10984.

Cross References

PCGS #10984; Medcalf-Russell