1903 So-Called Dollar HK-651, Merchants & Manufacturers

Coin Details

Description

Designated HK-651 in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1903 piece commemorates Merchants & Manufacturers in Massachusetts. Personal commemorative so-called dollars provide a medallic portrait gallery of Americans whose achievements merited recognition through specially struck pieces, preserving the faces and stories of notable figures. 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. Over its century-long history, the Medallic Art Company produced America's most prestigious awards including the Pulitzer Prize, Peabody Award, Newbery and Caldecott Medals, and presidential inaugural medals for eleven presidents. From Plymouth Rock to Bunker Hill, Massachusetts' central role in American history generated numerous commemorative medals celebrating the milestones of communities that shaped the nation's founding and development. The Hibler-Kappen catalog, first published in 1963 by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen, systematically organized American so-called dollars for the first time, assigning HK numbers that remain the standard reference today. Local commemorative medals from 1900-1930 reflect the Progressive Era's civic enthusiasm and the influence of the great exposition movement on community celebrations across the country.

Rarity Notes

HK-651 is scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Local commemorative medals from the Progressive Era were typically produced in limited quantities for distribution at the celebration event.

Cross References

HK-651; PCGS #643166