1939 Copper So-Called Dollar HK-739c, Kelvinator, 25th Anniversary

Coin Details

Description

Designated HK-739C in the Hibler-Kappen catalog, this 1939 piece commemorates Kelvinator, Bronze. Personal commemorative so-called dollars provide a medallic portrait gallery of Americans whose achievements merited recognition through specially struck pieces, preserving the faces and stories of notable figures. Struck in copper, this piece features the distinctive reddish-brown surface that characterizes American copper medals. Copper's malleability produces sharp strikes with excellent detail reproduction. The Medallic Art Company was founded in 1903 in Manhattan by Henri Weil, who learned the Janvier reduction machine technique in Paris and repurposed die-stamping equipment from Deitsch Brothers, a ladies' handbag manufacturer, for medal production. 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. Local commemoratives from the Depression and wartime era (1930-1950) reflect both economic hardship and patriotic fervor, with communities marking milestones despite — or perhaps because of — the challenging times. This piece is a variant of HK-739, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-739C are common to moderately scarce. Distribution was usually limited to event attendees and local residents, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-739C; PCGS #643398