1933 So-Called Dollar HK-685a, Santa Monica Breakwater

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-685A, this 1933 so-called dollar commemorates Santa Monica Breakwater in California. Biographical commemorative medals document the lives and contributions of individuals who shaped their communities, with portraits and inscriptions creating lasting tributes in metallic form. 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. 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. Golden State communities marked their milestones with commemorative medals that reflect California's unique blend of Spanish colonial heritage, Gold Rush entrepreneurship, and modern technological innovation. 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 1930s-1940s produced fewer local commemorative medals than adjacent decades, but the pieces that were issued often carry particular historical significance as documents of community resilience during Depression and war. This piece is a variant of HK-685, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics.

Rarity Notes

Local commemorative so-called dollars from the interwar period survive in varying quantities. Examples of HK-685A are scarce in the numismatic market.

Cross References

HK-685A; PCGS #643254