1911 Bronze So-Called Dollar HK-659, Mobile Bicentennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$61 AU58BN 12-19-2018 Heritage Auctions

Description

Designated HK-659 in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1911 piece commemorates Mobile Bicentennial in Alabama. The centennial movement in America gained momentum after the 1876 national Centennial in Philadelphia, inspiring communities large and small to mark their own 100th anniversaries with locally produced commemorative medals and tokens. Bronze examples of so-called dollars offer collectors an excellent balance of affordability, condition, and aesthetic appeal. The alloy's hardness produces sharp strikes with fine detail that survives handling better than softer metals. After relocations from Manhattan to Danbury, Connecticut (1972), Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1991), and Dayton, Nevada (1997), the company's archive of 50,000 items including 20,000 dies was rescued by the American Numismatic Society in 2018. So-called dollars — defined as privately issued medals approximately the size of a silver dollar — encompass one of the most diverse and historically rich collecting fields in American numismatics. 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

Local commemorative so-called dollars from the Progressive Era survive in varying quantities. Bronze examples of HK-659 are common to moderately scarce in the numismatic market.

Cross References

HK-659; PCGS #643186