1892 So-Called Dollar HK-222a, World's Columbian Expo

Coin Details

Auction Record

$720 PR67DCAM 09-20-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as HK-222a, this 1892 so-called dollar honors World's Columbian Expo. 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.' 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. 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. So-called dollars — defined as privately issued medals approximately the size of a silver dollar — encompass one of the most diverse and historically rich collecting fields in American numismatics. This piece is a variant of HK-222, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-222a are scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Gilded Age commemorative medals survive in varying numbers depending on original mintage and subsequent preservation. Variant types are generally scarcer than the primary issue.

Cross References

HK-222a; PCGS #599168; NGC #851546