1885 White Metal So-Called Dollar HK-143b, Worlds Expo, New Orleans

Coin Details

Description

HK-143b is a 1885 so-called dollar commemorating Worlds Expo New Orleans. The 1880s saw a wave of western statehood admissions — including North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington in 1889 — each generating commemorative medals celebrating the transition from territory to state. White metal so-called dollars were the workhorses of the commemorative medal industry, produced in greater numbers than precious metal versions and distributed widely at fairs, expositions, and public events. 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. This piece is a variant of HK-143, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-143b are moderately scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Gilded Age commemorative medals survive in varying numbers depending on original mintage and subsequent preservation. Variant types are generally scarcer than the primary issue.

Cross References

HK-143b; PCGS #642389; NGC #851909