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1876 First Century of Liberty So-Called Dollars - HK-118 / HK-118b

ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited July 12, 2020 1:48PM in U.S. Coin Forum

These are two gorgeous So-Called Dollars by Francis X. Koehler from the William Sphon Baker collection.

Although these are rated R7 and R6, I've very rarely see these MS condition.

How rare are these in mint state?

  • Bronze: Musante GW-878, Baker-409A, HK-118b. Rarity-7.
  • White Metal: Musante GW-878, Baker-409B, HK-118. Rarity-6.

Comments

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,323 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice medals and very typical, in an artistic way, of what would be expected in the US during 1876. I don't ever recall actually seeing one before.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Those are really nice medals.... Seems there were several medals/tokens minted for the centennial...The bi-centennial got the quarter, but not much else...Cheers, RickO

  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I believe the "R" numbers are a reflection of the estimates made by Hibler-Kappen over 50 years ago and not actual numbers known. to that end, there may only be 10-20 in all planchet types which are Mint State. medals like these aren't really sought after or collected below perhaps high AU, they just aren't very attractive.

    the HK-118b is a real gem, I don't know that I've ever seen one of these. B)

  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,563 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The white metal version is borderline common. I consider it as R-5, and if someone felt strongly that it was R-4 I wouldn't argue with them. I have a slabbed MS-63 myself, and a slabbed AU-55, and a nicer one unslabbed. Still, even though I have one that is technically an MS-63, that doesn't mean that it looks anything like this one. The Baker example is FAR nicer than any other that I've seen.

    The bronze is at least R-8 likely R-9. I had a strong bid on the Baker example, before the strength of my bid clearly didn't matter.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 18, 2020 8:56AM

    @jonathanb said:
    The white metal version is borderline common. I consider it as R-5, and if someone felt strongly that it was R-4 I wouldn't argue with them. I have a slabbed MS-63 myself, and a slabbed AU-55, and a nicer one unslabbed. Still, even though I have one that is technically an MS-63, that doesn't mean that it looks anything like this one. The Baker example is FAR nicer than any other that I've seen.

    The bronze is at least R-8 likely R-9. I had a strong bid on the Baker example, before the strength of my bid clearly didn't matter.

    Great info Jonathan!

    I wanted both but there were a lot of things I wanted more in the auction and had a limited budget. I bid on the bronze and wish I could have gone further.

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