1905 HK-333b, Antiqued Silver Lewis & Clark Centennial Dollar

Coin Details

Description

The 1905 Antiqued Lewis & Clark Centennial so-called dollar (HK-333b) is a commemorative piece from the Louisiana Purchase & Lewis and Clark series. The 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon celebrated the famous 1804-1806 expedition with 400 acres of exhibits along the Willamette River, drawing 1.6 million visitors. This silver striking represents the premium composition for so-called dollars of its era. Silver pieces were typically available to subscribers or sold at higher prices than the more widely distributed base metal versions. Official exposition medals were struck alongside the landmark Jefferson and McKinley gold dollars. Private manufacturers produced additional commemorative pieces sold to the 19.7 million fairgoers. Charles Barber's tenure as Chief Engraver coincided with the golden age of American expositions, and he designed official U.S. Mint medals for the Columbian, Louisiana Purchase, and Panama-Pacific fairs. 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-333, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-333b are scarce to rare among so-called dollar collectors. Early 20th century commemorative medals survive in varying numbers depending on original mintage and subsequent preservation. Variant types are generally scarcer than the primary issue.

Cross References

HK-333b; PCGS #642756; NGC #852010