Owner Comments:
SO-CALLED DOLLAR APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Type IV Variety: Brilliant Gem
*Blazing, brilliant frosty white example; Remarkably sharp, defined details.*
SO-CALLED DOLLAR BACKGROUND:
“Total struck reported to have been 10,000. Numbers issued and melted (if any melted) are unknown. Mining scene on obverse of this type is somewhat similar to that on Lesher Dollars of more than 30 years before. Colorado does not appear above Seal on reverse of Type IV.”
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Original Display Flips that issued the HK-870 medal stated the following:
FRONT OF FLIP: “Colorado at the Century of Progress” (Colorado State Board of Immigration)
INNER LEFT FLIP: “The Sale of Silver Coins… is Colorado’s method of financing an exhibit at Chicago’s Second World’s Fair displaying her marvelous, scenic, climactic, recreational and industrial resources.”
INNER RIGHT FLIP: “Colorado and the West…believe that nothing will hasten the return of substantial and lasting prosperity more quickly than the more general use of silver in coinage and the arts.”
BACK OF FLIP: “Silver Will Restore Prosperity” (130 State Bldg : Denver, Colorado)
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Completed “Colorado’s Century of Progress Dollars” Collection Listed in this Set are as Follows:
- HK-867 (Type I: Incused): NGC MS-62 (R6)
- HK-868 (Type II: Incused): NGC MS-62 PL (R5; Potentially R6/R7 in PL)
- HK-869 (Type III: Incused): NGC AU-58 (R5)
- HK-870 (Type IV: Embossed): PCGS MS-65 (R3)
DESIGNER: Colorado Century of Progress Commission
ENGRAVER: H.H. Tammen Co.
CATALOG NUMBER: HK-870
RARITY: 10,000 (Total Struck)
(PCGS Pop = 4; 1 Finer - PCGS Total Pop = 30 — NGC Pop = 79; 70 Finer - NGC Total Pop = 395 — Combined Pop = 83; 71 Finer - Combined Total Pop = 425): [05/2022]
Rarity Level 3 = ~501-2,000 Known - Designated "Scarce"
SO-CALLED DOLLAR DESCRIPTION:
(Planchets Made by Sachs-Lawlor Co. of Denver, Struck by The H. H. Tammen Co. of Denver, 1oz Silver, 40mm, Round, Embossed Letters/Figures, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Within circle, mining scene; below, Use Silver to / Restore / Prosperity; within circle and beaded border, * Century of Progress * above; 1833 • World's Fair • 1933 below.
REVERSE: Within circle, State Seal, Trade Mark below; outside around, between circle and beaded border, *** One • Ounce • of • Pure • Silver *** above; Colorado below.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
“Colorado State Legislature failed to appropriate funds for participation in Century of Progress Exposition, Chicago, 1933. Many Denver and other civic organizations, knowing that 32 or more other states were to have official exhibits, believed that Colorado's non-appearance would be detrimental to its industrial welfare.
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About $60,000 was estimated to be necessary to assure proper representation and only about 30 days then remained in which to raise it. A plan to produce and sell "Colorado Dollars" was devised and adopted by Colorado Century of Progress Commission to accomplish this objective.
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On Feb. 1, 1933, Commission announced that one-ounce discs of pure silver would be sold at $1 each, silver costing but 28 cents an ounce at that time. Next day Gov. Ed C. Johnson of Colorado purchased first token and general sale was started throughout state. The discs were advertised and sold elsewhere by Colorado State Board of Immigration, Denver, for $1.25 each.
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Planchets were made by Sachs-Lawlor Co., Denver. The H. H. Tammen Co., also of Denver, struck the pieces. All have plain edge. First three types have incuse letters and figures. Type IV is embossed.” — Credited Source: Hibler and Kappen