1936 So-Called Dollar HK-477, San Fran/Oakland Bridge

Coin Details

Description

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened on November 12, 1936, and this one-sided gilt brass piece, HK-477, records the date in the legend "Opened Nov. 12, 1936" over a picture of the bridge, with the bridge's name around the bottom and a small winged circle at the top. Hibler and Kappen could not find who issued it. Built after the state set up a Toll Bridge Authority in 1929 and largely financed by a loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corp., the bridge was begun on July 9, 1933. It ran 8 1/4 miles on two decks, with twin suspension spans from San Francisco to Yerba Buena Island, a tunnel through the island and a cantilever span beyond. At the opening the governor cut a gold link in a silver chain, and President Roosevelt started traffic from the White House with a gold key. 33 mm; the copper version is HK-476.

Cross References

HK-477; PCGS #644038; NGC #850790