Wells Fargo Semicentennial So-Called Dollar - HK-296

Zoins

The Wells Fargo Semicentennial is one of the more interesting So-Called Dollars for it's subject matter showcasing the time of the frontier.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a sighting of the gold specimen? Is it unique?

Here's my specimen.

Post anything related to Wells Fargo here

Here are a few more from CoinFacts:

jt88

Nice looking coins. Thanks for showing them.

tokenpro

On Wells Fargo $s always check the edge as the medals presented to some of the senior officers and managers had their name engraved in that location. I have one with the Midwest Regional vice-president's name neatly inscribed. I was told by a knowledgeable source that it was done by the company but I haven't confirmed that information.

Zoins

@tokenpro said:
On Wells Fargo $s always check the edge as the medals presented to some of the senior officers and managers had their name engraved in that location. I have one with the Midwest Regional vice-president's name neatly inscribed. I was told by a knowledgeable source that it was done by the company but I haven't confirmed that information.

Very cool. Do you have a pic of your edge? It would be great to start cataloging these and listing them on inserts.

DCW

Very nice example, John.
I really like the design. It seems when you stare at it long enough, the scene begins to come alive and the characters are all in motion. Stage coach buzzing along, the riflemen in ground combat, Indian proudly firing his bow and arrow at armed security.
I owned one in a high grade which had its original presentation box, but I sold it long ago.
These have really climbed in price

Zoins

@DCW said:
Very nice example, John.
I really like the design. It seems when you stare at it long enough, the scene begins to come alive and the characters are all in motion. Stage coach buzzing along, the riflemen in ground combat, Indian proudly firing his bow and arrow at armed security.
I owned one in a high grade which had its original presentation box, but I sold it long ago.
These have really climbed in price

Thanks for the comments Den! It's tough to find these, especially with some color.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the design. This seems to be one of the few period pieces that have a frontier pictorial, really bringing back what life was like back then. I love the touch of the snake on the obverse.

The only thing that doesn't really match my understanding of the times is that I would have imagined the Indian to have a rifle as well.

Byers

Zoins

@Byers said:

Amazing Mike! Imagine traveling across the US in one of those while being fired at with rifles, and returning fire!?

Twobitcollector

WiscKau

Veep

The one I’ve owned for years was raw upon purchase and later certified as MS63. I love everything about it.

I had been unaware of this issue when I first encountered it at a local show. I couldn’t stop looking at it. The dealer was asking $1,500 for it— raw. I thought hard, but passed. I still came back around to look at it twice more.

I invoked my rule to not buy something until I knew what it was worth and widened my search to the usual sources. I found out that the dealer where I’d first seen it was looking to hit a home run and I wound-up buying mine on eBay for something like $600.

After showing it to my dad and younger brother they each had to have one too and they both ended up buying one.

Maywood

This is an interesting issue. It seems more common than the high prices would suggest but has a wide base of collectors outside of the SC$ realm which supports those prices. Its design is unusually interesting but a little too “busy” for my taste.

It’s one of the listings in the catalog that I’ve never owned. Long term storage in the box of issues has toned most of them an unattractive grey so I probably never will own one.

Can someone post a Wells Fargo that’s bright or has some interesting color?? That would be a treat.

jonathanb

@Veep said:
The one I’ve owned for years was raw upon purchase and later certified as MS63. I love everything about it.

I had been unaware of this issue when I first encountered it at a local show. I couldn’t stop looking at it. The dealer was asking $1,500 for it— raw. I thought hard, but passed. I still came back around to look at it twice more.

I invoked my rule to not buy something until I knew what it was worth and widened my search to the usual sources. I found out that the dealer where I’d first seen it was looking to hit a home run and I wound-up buying mine on eBay for something like $600.

After showing it to my dad and younger brother they each had to have one too and they both ended up buying one.

Fwiw $1500 is a typical price for unc examples of these. There have been several recent sales over $3000. The medal is not rare, but it is popular.

Veep

Back when I got mine, nice ones were readily available for $750 or less.

FTB

@Maywood said:
This is an interesting issue. It seems more common than the high prices would suggest but has a wide base of collectors outside of the SC$ realm which supports those prices. Its design is unusually interesting but a little too “busy” for my taste.

It’s one of the listings in the catalog that I’ve never owned. Long term storage in the box of issues has toned most of them an unattractive grey so I probably never will own one.

Can someone post a Wells Fargo that’s bright or has some interesting color?? That would be a treat.

Per Jeff Shevlin, the issue was created with that coloration. The dark grey is not due to storage issues. I forget if he said it was due to how the planchet was treated or if it was antiqued after striking.

Either way, the issue doesn't react well to dipping and the bright/white examples are extremely unattractive in my opinion.

TallahasseeCoinClub

Mine only grades PCGS AU-58 - my second faborite HK entry.