1892-1893 So-Called Dollar HK-161c, Aluminum The Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Coin Details

Auction Record

$152 MS63 05-31-2024 eBay

Description

HK-161c is a 1892 so-called dollar commemorating The Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Pike's Peak commemorative medals celebrate the 14,115-foot Colorado summit that became a symbol of westward expansion after Zebulon Pike's 1806 expedition and the 1859 gold rush rallying cry 'Pike's Peak or Bust.' Aluminum so-called dollars, while lighter than their traditional-metal counterparts, maintain sharp design detail due to the metal's excellent die-filling properties under pressure. Miscellaneous national commemorative medals were produced by a wide range of manufacturers, from the U.S. Mint to local die-sinkers, covering subjects from presidential inaugurations to infrastructure milestones. 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. This piece is a variant of HK-161, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

Aluminum strikings of HK-161c are moderately scarce. Gilded Age medals were often distributed at events, with many entering circulation as pocket pieces rather than being preserved as collectibles.

Cross References

HK-161c; PCGS #925646