1926 HK-454, Sesquicentennial Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

Nickel is an uncommon choice of metal for the Sesquicentennial official medal, and HK-454 is that version, struck in the Mint's exhibit at the 1926 Philadelphia exposition from Albin Polasek's dies; a gold-plated nickel piece is HK-454a. The design shows Washington framed by thirteen stars above a Liberty Bell, and Liberty on Pegasus with torch and palm. The fair is remembered for a run of firsts: it was the first exposition to use sound amplification and gave the first broad showing of diesel engines, radios, electric refrigeration and talking pictures. Its sports program ended with the Dempsey-Tunney heavyweight title fight. It still lost money, a failure blamed on local doubt, Sunday closing, the lack of a midway and an unfinished opening. HK-454 measures 35 mm, the size of the copper HK-451.

Cross References

HK-454; PCGS #643980; NGC #850749