1901 Lesher Dollar - HK-1020, H. Stein

Coin Details

Auction Record

$30,000-$45,000 estimate • AU53 NGC • 02-2020 • Kagin's Henderson-Marchase Collection

Description

The 1901 Lesher Dollar HK-1020, stamped for H. Stein, is unique. The merchant name "H. STEIN" is hand-engraved on the obverse imprint space. Stein was a clothier in Canon City, Colorado, though the precise identification of this merchant remains the subject of ongoing research. Unlike most other merchant stamps that include both the business name and city, the Stein piece bears only the name without a location. The Stein variety was a previously undocumented type, first documented in the specialized literature by Dr. Philip W. Whiteley. Its discovery expanded the roster of known Lesher Dollar merchants and demonstrated that the series still held secrets more than a century after production ended. The single known specimen was part of the Henderson-Marchase Collection sold at Kagin's in February 2020, where it was estimated at $30,000-$45,000. Canon City, if confirmed as Stein's location, would place this merchant in the Arkansas Valley approximately 50 miles southeast of Victor. The city served as a supply and transportation hub for the southern Colorado mining districts, making it a logical location for Lesher to seek merchant partnerships. The engraved rather than stamped merchant name, combined with the apparent uniqueness, indicates this piece was a test or presentation example.

Rarity Notes

R-9 / Unique. Only 1 known specimen. Be a clothier in Canon City, Colorado.

Cross References

HK-1020; Zerbe-15 (Z-15); PCGS #19019