Hibler & Kappen's So-Called Dollars . . . let's see yours!

ZoidMeister

In my pursuit of interesting tokens, medals, and other exonumia, I have become more and more educated on items identified and cataloged by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen as a series of exonumia they affectionately named "So-Called Dollars."

I searched high and low to find a similar thread, but came up empty, so I thought I would start the ball rolling.

Anyway, I started picking up some of the more affordable pieces when I run across them, but I am sure there are loads of types and examples I will never run across. I am interested in learning more about their minted quantities, original issue prices, and relative rarities. I am also interested in relative values in today's world.

What is interesting to note is that MANY of today's contemporary Numismatic and Coin Club medals are based either loosely or nearly identical to, So-Called Dollars and other commemorative coinage of bygone eras.

Here is a recent So-Called Dollar I picked up. I am very pleased with the condition and design of this piece. It is the . . . . . .

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1904 Louisianan Purchase Expedition Official Souvenir Medal (HK-300)

Gold plated bronze, 33mm

Obv. Conjoined busts l. (Napoleon & Jefferson); above, around • Louisiana • Purchase • Exposition •; below all Official • Souvenir •; beaded border.
Rev. Relief map of U.S. with Louisiana Purchase across that portion representing extent of purchase; above Louisiana Territory / 1803 / 1,000,000 Square Miles / $15,000,000.; below map St. Louis 1904, beaded border.

References from:
https://so-calleddollars.com/Events/Louisiana_Purchase_Exposition.html

coinsarefun

Here are a few.......
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MWallace

coinsarefun

1894 Hk-245 Type 1 California Midwinter Expo
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ZoidMeister

@MWallace

Dangit man, I had an opportunity to buy a raw 1946 Monetary Unity piece a few months ago. I had no idea about it's rarity or the fact that it was an HK SC$1.

I am kicking myself really hard right now.

Beautiful piece. Show the reverse of that one too . . . . .

Z

https://so-calleddollars.com/Events/United_Nations_Monetary_Patterns.html

Mr_Spud

HK-222

jabba

MS68 Hk573

coinsarefun

1905 Lewis & Clark Expo HK-331A MS63DPL.
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1776" Continental Currency-Confederation Dollar. German Silver. 39 mm.
HK-859, DeLorey-88. Rarity-7.
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MWallace

@ZoidMeister said:
@MWallace

Dangit man, I had an opportunity to buy a raw 1946 Monetary Unity piece a few months ago. I had no idea about it's rarity or the fact that it was an HK SC$1.

I am kicking myself really hard right now.

Beautiful piece. Show the reverse of that one too . . . . .

Z

https://so-calleddollars.com/Events/United_Nations_Monetary_Patterns.html

Weiss

The 1909 Hudson-Fulton family. Probably the finest set. Graded, anyway:

keets

Cameonut

I have quite a few but few images. Here is one.

Namvet69

And.....it doesn't have a hole in it! Very very nice. Peace Roy

Snaps

HK-557

jesbroken

Here's a few of mine. I know I sold the Pedley-Ryan some 5-6 years ago, but have the rest I believe.
Jim

Mr_Spud

astrorat

A piece of Bryan Money on its way ... HK-778 NGC MS-63

ZoidMeister

Amazingly stunning examples gentlemen. Keep them coming and thanks for educating me on many of these.

I have a few more lower end pedestrian examples to share when I get some photos taken.

Z

ricko

I must resist.... resist.... sooooo tempting.... I will stick with coins.... and admire these SCD's here on the forum. Cheers, RickO

jesbroken

Bought this one off Ebay. HK-173 Aluminum
Jim

Zoins

Zoins

@ZoidMeister said:
Amazingly stunning examples gentlemen. Keep them coming and thanks for educating me on many of these.

I have a few more lower end pedestrian examples to share when I get some photos taken.

Here are some lower end of mine

coinsarefun

SO-CALLED-33 WHITE METAL IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN SP62
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CommemDude

A few of my favorites

Hydrant

WHOA! I just now found out that I have a nice sized collection of Hibler & Kappen So Called Dollars. Several that are shown here on this post. There was a dealer at the Long Beach Show around the late 70's early 80's? who sold them in a "junk box." I rummaged around the box and picked them out. They were very cheap. $1, $2, $5?? Never gave them much thought except that I liked them and they were CHEAP!

Zoins

@Hydrant said:
WHOA! I just now found out that I have a nice sized collection of Hibler & Kappen So Called Dollars. Several that a shown here on this post. There was a dealer at the Long Beach Show around the late 70's early 80's? who sold them in a "junk box." I rummaged around the box and picked them out. They were very cheap. $1, $2, $5?? Never gave them much thought except that I liked them and they were CHEAP!

That's when you should have bought them!

Back in the day the Lesher Dollars could be had for just $25!

Zoins

Great So-Called Dollars everyone! I love the variety with these

coinsarefun

1884 SC$1 HK-599a White Metal Middletown Centennial
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1917 SC$1 HK-893 Brass T-I WWI Good Luck Medal GIlt
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MedalCollector

ZoidMeister

@GoldenEgg said:

I love the "experience" of that one. An "everyman's" SC$1.

Z

coinsarefun

I have been asking for years that this one be listed as a SCD but to no avail. Years back when I posted
mine I even got a few chuckles out of a forum member here but can’t remember who. Well, a year or so back I found one slabbed by NGC and bought it, I think it’s the only one still graded. So, I decided to see if PCGS would slab it, well unbelievable......success, well close. PCGS lists it in their so-called dollars but no HK number but it’s close enough for me!

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(c.1970s) SC$50 Jankovsky-740 Brass Facsimile Coca Cola Bottling 'Slug'
Although it really should be form the 1960’s (1965, I believe)

Zoins

@coinsarefun said:
I have been asking for years that this one be listed as a SCD but to no avail. Years back when I posted mine I even got a few chuckles out of a forum member here but can’t remember who. Well, a year or so back I found one slabbed by NGC and bought it, I think it’s the only one still graded. So, I decided to see if PCGS would slab it, well unbelievable...... success, well close. PCGS lists it in their so-called dollars but no HK number but it’s close enough for me!

(c.1970s) SC$50 Jankovsky-740 Brass Facsimile Coca Cola Bottling 'Slug'
Although it really should be form the 1960’s (1965, I believe)

That's a great piece Stef!

I love how it's a "So-Called Fifty Dollars" on the PCGS insert!

I have been asking for years that this one be listed as a SCD but to no avail.

I think the issue with catalogers with this is that a Coca-Cola Bottling Company convention isn't a "significant event" the same way nationwide expos are. Adding this would open the door for more. Of course, you can argue that some company-specific event medals are already included.

ZoidMeister

@jabba said:
MS68 Hk573

Gotta love those Beaver Dollars! Nice examples are quite affordable for the "everyman" collectors.

Z

Zoins

@ZoidMeister said:

@jabba said:
MS68 Hk573

Gotta love those Beaver Dollars! Nice examples are quite affordable for the "everyman" collectors.

Z

It's worth mentioning @jabba has the PCGS MS68 TOP POP 1/0 specimen!

coinsarefun

I have been asking for years that this one be listed as a SCD but to no avail.

I think the issue with catalogers with this is that a Coca-Cola Bottling Company convention isn't a "significant event" the same way nationwide expos are. Adding this would open the door for more. Of course, you can argue that some company-specific event medals are already included.

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I think more than anything it is ever so slightly larger than the SCD larger diameter. I forget what it is
right now tho’. The slab is an oversized one, which I dislike collecting oversized slabs as they don’t fit into
the boxes.........I know it’s a weird reason not to collect them but then again I’m weird!....lol
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Zoins

@coinsarefun said:

I have been asking for years that this one be listed as a SCD but to no avail.

I think the issue with catalogers with this is that a Coca-Cola Bottling Company convention isn't a "significant event" the same way nationwide expos are. Adding this would open the door for more. Of course, you can argue that some company-specific event medals are already included.

I think more than anything it is ever so slightly larger than the SCD larger diameter. I forget what it is right now tho’. The slab is an oversized one, which I dislike collecting oversized slabs as they don’t fit into the boxes.........I know it’s a weird reason not to collect them but then again I’m weird!....lol

That is interesting since the regular slabs are designed to hold the California territorial and Pan Pac slugs.

coinsarefun

@Zoins said:

@coinsarefun said:

I have been asking for years that this one be listed as a SCD but to no avail.

I think the issue with catalogers with this is that a Coca-Cola Bottling Company convention isn't a "significant event" the same way nationwide expos are. Adding this would open the door for more. Of course, you can argue that some company-specific event medals are already included.

I think more than anything it is ever so slightly larger than the SCD larger diameter. I forget what it is right now tho’. The slab is an oversized one, which I dislike collecting oversized slabs as they don’t fit into the boxes.........I know it’s a weird reason not to collect them but then again I’m weird!....lol

That is interesting since the regular slabs are designed to hold the California territorial and Pan Pac slugs.

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I agree. It would fit into a standard size NGC slab. I own the only ngc and for now only PCGS.
I would imagine it will soon flow in.

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keets

Pioneer1

Here's a piece I personally like... HK-135 ... George Washington's HQ at Newburgh, NY at the end of the war in 1783 with the Peace Proclamation and Army disbandment. I visited the site in August 2019 after visiting West Point Academy (how ironic). I love the Washington coat of arms on the reverse from which "the American flag was designed."

Jeff Shevlin had one of these in Silver (HK-135b) at the 2019 ANA show for $5-6K. Too rich for me... hope someone else got it. I'm happy with the white metal version. Here are the photos:

This is what I love about SCD collecting... visiting the original sites and finding stories and ephemera related to the event.

coinsarefun

1898 HK-283 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPO NGC MS 64
1898 HK-281 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPO PCGS AU 58
Two of my favorites.
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DrDarryl

DrDarryl

Struck in 1914 as part of the Mid Pacific Carnival in Hawaii. Current top pop in MS and MS PL.

Zoins

@coinsarefun said:
1898 HK-283 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPO NGC MS 64
1898 HK-281 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPO PCGS AU 58
Two of my favorites.

Gorgeous! One of my favorite designs too

ZoidMeister

@keets said:

Is that a "no star" example hiding in that tiny photo @keets?

Z

keets

no, it has a star. does the Gilt/Gold Plated come as a No Star variety??

ZoidMeister

I think what I like best about "So-Called Dollars" is the accessibility of these rare and vintage designs to the "everyman" collector.

Yeah, mine aren't "Top-Pop" by any stretch, but in the budget categories that I travel in, one can pick up quite a few nice examples of seldom seen numismatic history.

Z

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1939 HK-482x (private issue) Golden Gate International Exhibition

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1960 HK-582 Pony Express Centennial (silver)
1960 HK-583 Pony Express Centennial (bronze)

ZoidMeister

And while not "high grade" I think these have an allure all their own . . . . . .

Z

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1904 HK-299 Louisianan Purchase Exposition (silver)
1904 HK-300 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (gold plate bronze)

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1893 HK-154 World's Columbian Exposition (Type I)

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coinsarefun

Thanks @Zoins i just finished hammering out the deal last night and the
1898 HK-281 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPO PCGS AU 58
Is on its way to me. I’ve looked for years for a nice silver example. I usually
prefer toned examples but this one stuck out and I’ve looked at it for a good few months
Maybe longer. I think it has a lot of pizzaz for an AU58 maybe even AU61

coinsarefun

1915 CA HK-400 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION OFFICIAL MEDAL. NGC MS 65

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1915 CA HK-399 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION OFFICIAL MEDAL. NGC MS 63

astrorat

Here's a couple more fresh off the Nikon sensor.

HK-779 PCGS AU Details

HK-782 PCGS AU-58

Zoins

@coinsarefun said:
1915 CA HK-400 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION OFFICIAL MEDAL. NGC MS 65

1915 CA HK-399 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION OFFICIAL MEDAL. NGC MS 63

Those are gorgeous Stef! Congrats