1898 So-Called Dollar HK-281a, Trans-Mississippi Expo

Coin Details

Auction Record

$230 MS-62HK-283 09-25-2007 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

HK-281a is a 1898 so-called dollar commemorating Trans-Mississippi Expo. The Pan-American Exposition's use of electric lighting, powered by alternating current from Niagara Falls, made it the most brilliantly illuminated event the world had seen, earning it the nickname 'The Rainbow City.' 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. Trans-Mississippi and Pan-American medals were struck by both official exposition mints and private concessionaires. The McKinley assassination generated additional memorial medal production. 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-281, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

HK-281a is scarce in the numismatic market. Production quantities for Gilded Age commemorative medals were typically modest, and survival rates vary significantly based on the original distribution method and the material's durability.

Cross References

HK-281a; PCGS #642654; NGC #853114