1959 HK-561, Silver-Plated, Salem OR Statehood Centennial Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$55 MS63 02-21-2023 eBay

Description

This commemorative so-called dollar (HK-561) from 1959 celebrates -Plated Salem OR Statehood Centennial. Chicago's 1933-1934 Century of Progress drew 48.8 million visitors across two seasons with its modernist Art Deco architecture along Lake Michigan, becoming the first international fair in American history to pay for itself. The silvered finish represents a middle ground between base metal and solid silver compositions. Well-preserved silvered examples with intact plating are scarcer than might be expected, as the thin silver layer is susceptible to wear. 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. So-called dollars — defined as privately issued medals approximately the size of a silver dollar — encompass one of the most diverse and historically rich collecting fields in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

HK-561 is scarce in the numismatic market. Production quantities for post-war era commemorative medals were typically modest, and survival rates vary significantly based on the original distribution method and the material's durability.

Cross References

HK-561; PCGS #642947; NGC #850902