1934 HK-470, Cent. Of Progress Expo-Chicago Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$99 MS66 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1934 Cent. Of Progress Expo-Chicago so-called dollar (HK-470) is a commemorative piece from the Later Expositions & World's Fairs series. The Century of Progress featured the Sky Ride, transporting visitors 218 feet above the lagoon in enclosed cars suspended between two 628-foot steel towers, and pioneered windowless buildings using prefabricated Masonite and plywood. Struck in bronze, this piece combines durability with an attractive warm tone that deepens with age into a rich chocolate-brown patina. Bronze was the preferred composition for many commemorative medals due to its excellent detail retention. 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

So-called dollars from the interwar period were produced in limited quantities for distribution at events or through numismatic channels. Examples of HK-470 are scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-470; PCGS #644016; NGC #850775