1918 Brass So-Called Dollar HK-897, Type-II WWI Peace Medal

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-897, this brass Elder WWI peace medal was produced by Thomas Lindsay Elder during the Great War era, spanning approximately 30 catalog numbers from HK-877 through HK-907. The Elder WWI series (HK-877 through HK-907), produced between 1917 and 1919, encompasses approximately 30 distinct catalog numbers struck in multiple metals including brass, bronze, aluminum, copper, silver, and antiqued copper, creating dozens of varieties. This constitutes one of the most extensive privately produced World War I commemorative medal series in American numismatics, reflecting Elder's entrepreneurial approach to medallic production. The series divides into three subcategories: peace medals commemorating the November 1918 Armistice and expressing hope for lasting peace; victory medals celebrating the Allied triumph in the Great War and the subsequent Versailles negotiations; and 'Good Luck' medals reflecting wartime superstitious practices, serving as both patriotic souvenirs and talismans for soldiers and their families during a period of profound national anxiety. Each HK number represents a distinct combination of design, composition, and die state, creating a collecting framework that rewards careful study and attention to detail. The monetary so-called dollars occupy a special niche within this framework, as they represent not just commemorative art but actual experiments in private coinage, political advocacy through medallic form, and commentary on the great monetary debates that shaped American economic history.

Rarity Notes

Thomas Elder WWI so-called dollars survive in varying numbers across the extensive series. Brass examples are among the more commonly encountered compositions. Some HK numbers in the Elder WWI range are quite rare, while others are more readily available. The lettered variants (b, c, d suffixes) typically represent rarer die states or compositions.

Cross References

HK-897; PCGS #643715