1886 So-Called Dollar HK-604, Milwaukee Industrial Exposition

Coin Details

Description

Designated HK-604 in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1886 piece commemorates Milwaukee Industrial Expo in Wisconsin. 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. 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. 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. Local commemorative medals from before 1900 reflect an era when American communities were actively shaping their civic identities, with medal production serving as both celebration and assertion of permanence.

Rarity Notes

Local commemorative so-called dollars from the Gilded Age survive in varying quantities. Examples of HK-604 are scarce in the numismatic market.

Cross References

HK-604; PCGS #643052