1959 So-Called Dollar HK-556, Oregon Statehood Centennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 MS67 06-10-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1959 so-called dollar (HK-556) commemorates Oregon Statehood Centennial. The 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas's Fair Park produced over 50 Art Deco buildings, many of which survive today, while providing 10,000 jobs and a $50 million economic boost during the Depression. Struck in bronze, this piece combines durability with an attractive warm tone that deepens with age into a rich chocolate-brown patina. Bronze was the preferred composition for many commemorative medals due to its excellent detail retention. 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. Examples of HK-556 are scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-556; PCGS #642941; NGC #850895