1901 Silver Lesher Dollar HK-1018, Druggist F.E. Church

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-1018, this Lesher Referendum Dollar represents one of the most remarkable private monetary experiments in American numismatic history — a Colorado mining man putting his free silver beliefs into tangible metallic form. With an estimated mintage of 50 pieces, this variety is rare. The first type, struck from dies cut by Frank Hurd of Denver, consisted of 100 octagonal pieces weighing one troy ounce (480 grains) of .950 fine silver with a face value of $1.25. The scheme attracted support from A.B. Bumstead, a Victor grocer, for whom a second, more elaborate octagonal type was produced featuring a mining scene designed by Herman Otto, a Denver artist, with approximately 700 pieces manufactured. A brief round 'Bank Type' experiment (about 10 die trials) was quickly abandoned, and in 1901 Lesher produced a smaller (32mm), lighter (412.5 grains) octagonal imprint type at $1.00 face value with approximately 800 pieces across nine merchant varieties. J.E. Nelson & Co. of Holdrege, Nebraska, was the only merchant outside Colorado to accept Lesher dollars, demonstrating that word of the experiment spread beyond state lines. The merchants who accepted and counterstamped Lesher's dollars came from five Colorado towns plus one in Nebraska: J.M. Slusher, a Cripple Creek grocer (260 pieces); Sam Cohen, a Victor jeweler who later became a prominent New York attorney and authored 'Gold Rush De Luxe' in 1940 (50 pieces); D.W. Klein & Co., a Pueblo liquor dealer (100 pieces); George Mullen, a Victor shoemaker (100 pieces); Boyd Park, a Denver jeweler (150 pieces); W.C. Alexander, a Salida jeweler (50 pieces); and several others including Goodspeeds & Co. of Colorado Springs and J.E. Nelson & Co. of Holdrege, Nebraska. The Hibler-Kappen catalog, first published in 1963 by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen as 'So-Called Dollars: An Illustrated Standard Catalog,' provides the systematic numbering system (HK numbers) used to identify and classify hundreds of American medals approximately the size of a silver dollar. The catalog has been revised and expanded in subsequent editions, with Jeff Shevlin's contributions significantly expanding the known census.

Rarity Notes

Lesher Referendum Dollars are rare across all varieties, with total mintage estimated at only a few hundred pieces per type. The Druggist F.E. Church variety is rare, with only a small number of known examples. These pieces are highly prized by collectors of both so-called dollars and Western Americana.

Cross References

HK-1018; PCGS #643781