1952 So-Called Dollar HK-703, Lick Freeway Dedication

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as HK-703, this 1952 so-called dollar commemorates Lick Freeway Dedication 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. Struck in bronze, this piece showcases the detailed die work typical of American commemorative medals. Bronze's natural patina gives aged examples an appealing warm-brown surface that collectors prize. 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. California's dramatic history — from the Gold Rush through the San Francisco earthquake to its emergence as America's most populous state — generated commemorative medals documenting the rapid transformation of the Pacific Coast. 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. Mid-20th-century local commemoratives reflect the suburban expansion and civic optimism of postwar America, with communities from coast to coast marking centennials, sesquicentennials, and other milestones with specially produced medals.

Rarity Notes

HK-703 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-703; PCGS #643305