1959 So-Called Dollar HK-538, A.A. Jet Dollar German Silver

Coin Details

Auction Record

$132 MS63 08-11-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This commemorative so-called dollar (HK-538) from 1959 celebrates A.A. Jet. San Francisco's 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition occupied Treasure Island, a 400-acre artificial island built from 300,000 tons of boulders and dredged sand, later converted to Naval Station Treasure Island. The German silver composition gives this piece a distinctive bright metallic appearance. Also known as nickel silver, this alloy was valued for medals because it resisted tarnishing better than actual silver while maintaining a similar visual appeal. 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. Harold Hibler and Charles Kappen spent decades cataloging American dollar-sized medals, creating a reference work that transformed a scattered collecting field into an organized numismatic specialty.

Rarity Notes

So-called dollars from the post-war era were produced in limited quantities for distribution at events or through numismatic channels. German Silver examples of HK-538 are scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-538; PCGS #642917; NGC #850875