1958 So-Called Dollar HK-518a, Minnesota Statehood Centennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$40 MS65 04-26-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1958 so-called dollar (HK-518a) commemorates Minnesota Statehood Centennial. The Century of Progress featured the Sky Ride, transporting visitors 218 feet above the lagoon in enclosed cars suspended between two 628-foot steel towers, and pioneered windowless buildings using prefabricated Masonite and plywood. Bronze examples of so-called dollars offer collectors an excellent balance of affordability, condition, and aesthetic appeal. The alloy's hardness produces sharp strikes with fine detail that survives handling better than softer metals. Later exposition medals were produced by a mix of U.S. Mint issues and private manufacturers, with many struck in lower quantities than the great 19th-century fairs. The Century of Progress and New York World's Fair generated the most varieties. Collectors of so-called dollars pursue pieces by exposition, metal type, engraver, geographic region, or historical theme, with complete sets of certain exposition groups being particularly prized accomplishments. This piece is a variant of HK-518, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

Rarity Notes

Examples of HK-518a are scarce among so-called dollar collectors. Post-war era commemorative medals survive in varying numbers depending on original mintage and subsequent preservation. Variant types are generally scarcer than the primary issue.

Cross References

HK-518a; PCGS #642881; NGC #850852