1960 So-Called Dollar HK-579b, (C1960) La Mardi Gras Celebration

Coin Details

Description

This 1960 so-called dollar (HK-579b) commemorates (C1960) La Mardi Gras Celebration. Philadelphia's 1926 Sesqui-Centennial suffered rain on 107 of its 184 open days, drawing only 6.4 million visitors against a projected 50 million, though it produced an 80-foot replica of the Liberty Bell illuminated by 26,000 light bulbs. 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. This piece is a variant of HK-579, distinguished by differences in composition, die state, or striking characteristics that merit a separate catalog entry in the Hibler-Kappen reference.

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-579b are scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-579b; PCGS #642983; NGC #850923