1876 So-Called Dollar HK-32, GW-909, White Metal Centennial-Liberty Bell

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,140 MS61 10-30-2018 Stack's Bowers

Description

This commemorative so-called dollar (HK-32) from 1876 celebrates Centennial-Liberty Bell. Machinery Hall covered 13 acres and housed the 1,400-horsepower Corliss steam engine, standing 70 feet tall and weighing 650 tons, which powered all exhibits through five miles of overhead belts and shafts. White metal so-called dollars were the workhorses of the commemorative medal industry, produced in greater numbers than precious metal versions and distributed widely at fairs, expositions, and public events. The U.S. Mint struck official Centennial medals designed by William Barber, while private firms produced hundreds of additional varieties. The Centennial group is the largest in the HK catalog. George Morgan, famous for his Liberty Head silver dollar design, also contributed to exposition medal production during his long tenure at the U.S. Mint. The Hibler-Kappen catalog has been updated and expanded since its 1963 first edition, with later researchers adding newly discovered varieties and extending coverage into the modern era.

Rarity Notes

So-called dollars from the post-Civil War era were produced in limited quantities for distribution at events or through numismatic channels. White Metal examples of HK-32 are moderately scarce, with surviving pieces ranging from well-worn pocket pieces to carefully preserved specimens.

Cross References

HK-32; PCGS #642082; NGC #850080