1891 So-Called Dollar HK-760, U.S. Grant Monument

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,280 MS64DMPL 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1891 local commemorative so-called dollar (HK-760) honors U.S. Grant Monument in Illinois. Architectural commemorative medals preserve the memory of buildings, bridges, and monuments that shaped American communities, with designs often featuring detailed renderings of the structures themselves. This bronze so-called dollar represents the standard commemorative medal composition of its era. Bronze pieces were often the primary production run, with silver reserved for presentation copies and white metal for budget editions. 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 Prairie State's commemorative medal tradition reflects both the dramatic growth of Chicago and the agricultural heritage of downstate communities that fed the nation during its westward expansion. The Hibler-Kappen catalog has been updated and expanded since its 1963 first edition, with later researchers adding newly discovered varieties and extending coverage into the modern era. 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

Examples of HK-760 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-760; PCGS #643450