Spencer Collection of So Called Dollars
HK-705 BR, Northampton Tercentenniary


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description: SC$1 1906 CA HK-341 SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE
Grade: NGC AU 53
Owner: Spencer Collection
 
Set Category: Token & Medals
Set Name: Spencer Collection of So Called Dollars
Slot Name: HK-705 BR, Northampton Tercentenniary
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

Medal, 1906, BR, SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE, SF, CA, So Called Dollar, HK-341 Brass, Type I, Rariity-6, NGC AU53, Cert# 2619469-009. Obv. Street and buildings in ruins; below small California Street; above all April 18, 1906; below all San Francisco, Cal.; beaded border. Rev. Edifice; below Ruins of City Hall; above all, around San Francisco Earthquake & Fire; below all Souvenir; beaded border. Reeded Edge, 36mm. Extensive research fails to establish origin of these issues. Some feel they were produced and sold to assist in defraying portion of giant cost of catastrophe but any revenue derived would have been insignificant. More creditable is statement of San Francisco Public Library that "reliable local opinion is that production of such medals probably was a transitory commercial venture with no official connection." This was most severe earthquake in history of United States; affected area 150 miles both north and south of city, east to Nevada and west to Honolulu. Starting about 5 A.M., April 18, 1906, series of 2 main shocks and 25 additional ones shook San Francisco alone; resulting fires raged 3 days, destroyed 500 city blocks, over 28,000 buildings; almost 500 people killed, 2,500 seriously injured. San Francisco loss estimated at $250,000,000; total $350,000,000. One of "wonders of conflagration" was saving of U.S. Mint Building, "where fire was fiercest," by 250 employees and soldiers. Attractive.

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