1884-1885 So-Called Dollar HK-144, 5 La Globe Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,960 MS64 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

HK-144 is a 1884 so-called dollar commemorating 5 La Globe. Regional commemoratives from this era reflect the Gilded Age's enthusiasm for civic identity, with communities large and small commissioning medals to assert their place in the American narrative. The bronze composition of this piece reflects the medallic tradition dating to classical antiquity. Bronze so-called dollars typically survive in better condition than white metal examples due to the alloy's greater hardness and durability. State and regional medals were typically commissioned by local committees and struck by private manufacturers. Silver and white metal compositions predominate. So-called dollars — defined as privately issued medals approximately the size of a silver dollar — encompass one of the most diverse and historically rich collecting fields in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Strikings of HK-144 are scarce. Gilded Age medals were often distributed at events, with many entering circulation as pocket pieces rather than being preserved as collectibles.

Cross References

HK-144; PCGS #642392; NGC #850261