1898 So-Called Dollar HK-285a, U.S. Battleship Maine

Coin Details

Description

This 1898 so-called dollar (HK-285a) commemorates U.S. Battleship Maine. 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.' The bronze composition of this piece reflects the medallic tradition dating to classical antiquity. Bronze so-called dollars typically survive in better condition than white metal examples due to the alloy's greater hardness and durability. Trans-Mississippi and Pan-American medals were struck by both official exposition mints and private concessionaires. The McKinley assassination generated additional memorial medal production. Harold Hibler and Charles Kappen spent decades cataloging American dollar-sized medals, creating a reference work that transformed a scattered collecting field into an organized numismatic specialty. This piece is a variant of HK-285, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

So-called dollars from the Gilded Age were produced in limited quantities for distribution at events or through numismatic channels. Examples of HK-285a are scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-285a; PCGS #642669; NGC #851984