1890 So-Called Dollar HK-732, San Francisco Chronicle

Coin Details

Description

The 1890 San Francisco Chronicle so-called dollar (HK-732) was issued as a promotional piece by the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, one of California's most prominent daily publications. The Chronicle, founded in 1865 by brothers Charles and Michael de Young, became one of the most influential newspapers on the West Coast and played a significant role in California politics and culture during the Gilded Age. By 1890, the Chronicle was locked in fierce competition with rival papers including the San Francisco Examiner (owned by William Randolph Hearst) and the San Francisco Call. Promotional medals and tokens were common marketing tools for businesses and institutions in the late 19th century, and newspapers frequently issued commemorative pieces to build reader loyalty and public visibility. This so-called dollar represents the intersection of American medallic art and commercial promotion. At 43mm in diameter, it is larger than the standard 33-38mm size, giving it a more substantial presence. The piece is cataloged in the local commemorative section of the Hibler-Kappen reference, reflecting its California origin and regional commemorative character.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Newspaper promotional medals from the 1890s survive in modest numbers. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 may have destroyed some examples.

Cross References

HK-732; PCGS #643368