1945 So-Called Dollar HK-776, Boothe Homestead

Coin Details

Auction Record

$60 MS65RD 04-26-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This commemorative medal (HK-776) from 1945 celebrates Boothe Homestead in Connecticut. The tradition of honoring individuals with commemorative medals extends from formal congressional gold medals to locally produced pieces celebrating community leaders, educators, and benefactors. 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. 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 Hibler-Kappen catalog has been updated and expanded since its 1963 first edition, with later researchers adding newly discovered varieties and extending coverage into the modern era. 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.

Rarity Notes

HK-776 is scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Local commemorative medals from the mid-20th century were typically produced in limited quantities for distribution at the celebration event.

Cross References

HK-776; PCGS #643488