1917 HK-444, Veteran Corps of Artillery Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS65 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1917 Veteran Corps of Artillery so-called dollar (HK-444) is a commemorative piece from the Later Expositions & World's Fairs series. Chicago's 1933-1934 Century of Progress drew 48.8 million visitors across two seasons with its modernist Art Deco architecture along Lake Michigan, becoming the first international fair in American history to pay for itself. This bronze so-called dollar represents the standard commemorative medal composition of its era. Bronze pieces were often the primary production run, with silver reserved for presentation copies and white metal for budget editions. Later exposition medals were produced by a mix of U.S. Mint issues and private manufacturers, with many struck in lower quantities than the great 19th-century fairs. The Century of Progress and New York World's Fair generated the most varieties. 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.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-444 are scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Early 20th century commemorative medals survive in varying numbers depending on original mintage and subsequent preservation.

Cross References

HK-444; PCGS #643962; NGC #850732