1906 So-Called Dollar HK-652, Cincinnati Fall Festival

Coin Details

Auction Record

$100 MS62 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1906 local commemorative so-called dollar (HK-652) honors Cincinnati Fall Festival in Ohio. Local fairs and expositions generated commemorative medals that document regional economic and agricultural achievement, from state fairs showcasing agricultural prowess to industrial expositions celebrating manufacturing development. 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. Ohio's central location and rapid 19th-century growth made it one of the most active states for commemorative medal production, with communities from Cleveland to Cincinnati marking milestones with locally produced pieces. The HK numbering system established by Hibler and Kappen in 1963 brought order to hundreds of previously uncataloged American commemorative medals, many of which had been ignored by mainstream numismatic references. The early 20th century saw a flourishing of local commemorative medal production, as improved manufacturing techniques and growing civic consciousness combined to make medal issuance accessible to communities of all sizes.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-652 are scarce. Distribution was usually limited to event attendees and local residents, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-652; PCGS #643169