1886 HK-1005, Eutopia Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

Nicholas Veeder of Pittsburgh designed and struck this 1886 piece, HK-1005, to show that gold and silver could be joined in one coin, a scheme he called co-metallism. It is silver with gold center, 33 mm across. On the obverse the gold insert carries a sun with rays; the silver ring reads "Model for Cometallic Coins and Medals," and the outer band names the "Republic of Eutopia," with the date between ornaments below. On the reverse the gold center gives its weight as 12 9/10 grains, the ring spells out "ARGENTORUM" in spaced letters with 206 1/4 grains of silver, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac run around the border. Veeder had laid out the plan in an 1885 booklet. Reaction at the time was mostly cool, some calling it a revival of the Goloid idea. Herren Bros. & Co. engraved the dies, which reportedly broke on the third impression.

Cross References

HK-1005; PCGS #643764