1890 White Metal So-Called Dollar HK-617c, Allegheny City Semi-Centennial

Coin Details

Description

Designated HK-617C in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1890 piece commemorates Allegheny Semi-Centennial in Pennsylvania. The centennial movement in America gained momentum after the 1876 national Centennial in Philadelphia, inspiring communities large and small to mark their own 100th anniversaries with locally produced commemorative medals and tokens. Cast or struck in white metal, this piece exhibits the silvery-white appearance characteristic of tin-based alloys. The softness of white metal makes high-grade examples surprisingly scarce despite generous original mintages. Private medal manufacturers played a central role in American commemorative culture, providing communities with the means to create lasting metallic records of their most significant celebrations and milestones. Pennsylvania's role as the cradle of American independence and its position as a major industrial state generated a rich tradition of commemorative medal production, with Philadelphia serving as both the political and medallic capital of the early republic. The HK numbering system established by Hibler and Kappen in 1963 brought order to hundreds of previously uncataloged American commemorative medals, many of which had been ignored by mainstream numismatic references. 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. This piece is a variant of HK-617, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-617C are moderately scarce. Distribution was usually limited to event attendees and local residents, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-617C; PCGS #643087