1884 So-Called Dollar HK-600a, St. Louis Exposition

Coin Details

Auction Record

$29 AU Details 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1884 St. Louis Exposition so-called dollar (HK-600) is a local commemorative piece in Missouri. Local fairs and expositions generated commemorative medals that document regional economic and agricultural achievement, from state fairs showcasing agricultural prowess to industrial expositions celebrating manufacturing development. 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. The production of commemorative medals in America supported a network of skilled engravers, die sinkers, and press operators whose craft combined artistic sensibility with industrial precision. The Hibler-Kappen catalog has been updated and expanded since its 1963 first edition, with later researchers adding newly discovered varieties and extending coverage into the modern era. Pre-1900 local commemorative medals are among the most historically significant in the so-called dollar series, documenting the celebrations of communities still within living memory of their founding or early settlement periods.

Rarity Notes

HK-600 is scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Local commemorative medals from the Gilded Age were typically produced in limited quantities for distribution at the celebration event.

Cross References

HK-600; PCGS #643043