1901 Lesher Dollar - HK-792, J.M. Slusher

Coin Details

Description

The 1901 Lesher Dollar HK-792, stamped for J.M. Slusher of Cripple Creek, Colorado, is the most commonly encountered Lesher Dollar of any type. Slusher operated a grocery store in Cripple Creek, the neighboring town to Victor in the famous Cripple Creek mining district, and he became the largest single merchant distributor of 1901 Lesher Dollars. His stamp reads "J. M. SLUSHER / CRIPPLE CREEK, COLO." on the obverse imprint space. With approximately 260 pieces stamped for his store, Slusher received the largest merchant allocation in the 1901 series, and his pieces have the highest survival rate of any Lesher Dollar variety. Slusher's enthusiastic participation mirrors the earlier success of A.B. Bumstead's grocery distribution in Victor — both merchants demonstrated that local grocers, handling frequent small transactions with mining community customers, were ideal outlets for Lesher's private silver currency. Despite being the most common variety, Slusher pieces still command substantial premiums in the numismatic market. The entire Lesher Dollar series is rare by any standard — researcher Adna Wilde's comprehensive census documents approximately 620 surviving examples across all types from an estimated total production of 1,869-3,500 pieces. Even the most available Slusher pieces represent survivors from a small-town Colorado silver currency experiment that lasted only two years before federal intervention ended it.

Rarity Notes

R-3. Approximately 260 stamped — the most common Lesher Dollar variety overall, with an estimated 200+ survivors.

Cross References

HK-792; Zerbe-6 (Z-6); PCGS #19007