1888 So-Called Dollar HK-146, Ohio Valley Centennial

Coin Details

Description

Designated HK-146 in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1888 piece commemorates Ohio Valley Centennial. 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. Struck in bronze, this piece combines durability with an attractive warm tone that deepens with age into a rich chocolate-brown patina. Bronze was the preferred composition for many commemorative medals due to its excellent detail retention. State and regional medals were typically commissioned by local committees and struck by private manufacturers. Silver and white metal compositions predominate. Collectors of so-called dollars pursue pieces by exposition, metal type, engraver, geographic region, or historical theme, with complete sets of certain exposition groups being particularly prized accomplishments.

Rarity Notes

HK-146 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-146; PCGS #642402; NGC #850263