1886 So-Called Dollar HK-603, Albany Bicentennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$75 NGC Genuine 06-05-2018 eBay

Description

Cataloged as HK-603, this 1886 so-called dollar commemorates Albany Bicentennial in New York. Centennial medals served as tangible connections to a community's founding era, with designs typically featuring the city seal, important local landmarks, portraits of founding figures, or scenes from the community's early history. 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. American commemorative medal manufacturers ranged from the U.S. Mint to small regional die-sinkers, with each firm bringing distinctive artistic approaches and production capabilities to the medallic arts. New York communities from Manhattan to Buffalo produced commemorative medals for a wide range of occasions, reflecting the Empire State's diverse history and its residents' enthusiasm for civic celebration. The Hibler-Kappen catalog, first published in 1963 by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen, systematically organized American so-called dollars for the first time, assigning HK numbers that remain the standard reference today. 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-603 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-603; PCGS #643051