1891 So-Called Dollar HK-759a, U.S. Grant Monument

Coin Details

Description

Designated HK-759A in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this (1891) piece commemorates U.S. Grant Monument in Illinois. From courthouse dedications to bridge openings, Americans have marked significant construction milestones with commemorative medals that document the built environment of growing communities. Struck in bronze, this piece showcases the detailed die work typical of American commemorative medals. Bronze's natural patina gives aged examples an appealing warm-brown surface that collectors prize. 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. Illinois communities, centered on Chicago's commercial and industrial growth, produced commemorative medals documenting the state's transformation from frontier territory to one of America's most important industrial and agricultural states. 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. 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. This piece is a variant of HK-759, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-759A are 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-759A; PCGS #643449