1885 HK-145, Washington Monument Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$780 SP62 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1885 so-called dollar (HK-145) commemorates Washington Monument. 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 bronze, this piece showcases the detailed die work typical of American commemorative medals. Bronze's natural patina gives aged examples an appealing warm-brown surface that collectors prize. State and regional medals were typically commissioned by local committees and struck by private manufacturers. Silver and white metal compositions predominate. The HK numbering system established by Hibler and Kappen in 1963 brought order to hundreds of previously uncataloged American commemorative medals, many of which had been ignored by mainstream numismatic references. Medal collecting has deep roots in American culture, with prominent early collectors including Joseph Mickley, who began assembling his famous cabinet of coins and medals in the 1810s, and Matthew Stickney, whose collection included important early American commemorative pieces.

Rarity Notes

HK-145 is 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-145; PCGS #642398; NGC #850262