1955 So-Called Dollar HK-724a, Visit W/ the Mayor

Coin Details

Description

HK-724A is a (c.1955) so-called dollar commemorating Visit W/ the Mayor in California. 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. 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. Golden State communities marked their milestones with commemorative medals that reflect California's unique blend of Spanish colonial heritage, Gold Rush entrepreneurship, and modern technological innovation. The Hibler-Kappen catalog, first published in 1963 by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen, systematically organized American so-called dollars for the first time, assigning HK numbers that remain the standard reference today. The postwar boom of 1950-1976 was the golden age of local commemorative medal production, with the Heraldic Art Company and other manufacturers producing hundreds of pieces for community celebrations across America. This piece is a variant of HK-724, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics.

Rarity Notes

HK-724A 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-724A; PCGS #643346