Owner Comments:
SO-CALLED DOLLAR APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Type III Variety: Almost Uncirculated+
*A solid, even strike throughout. Untoned surfaces give this example a natural and pleasing appeal. — From a grading perspective, this specimen appears to at least be MS-60. Although there are numerous contact marks, no wear is exhibited at all. This appears to be undergraded.*
SO-CALLED DOLLAR BACKGROUND:
“Sale began Feb. 16. Of 2,000 struck, those unsold were melted (number unknown), together with Type II pieces not issued, and silver used to strike Type IV.”
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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-869
RARITY: 2,000 (Total Struck)
(NGC Pop = 12; 26 Finer - NGC Total Pop = 63): [05/2022]
Rarity Level 5 = ~76-200 Known - Designated "Rare to Very Rare"
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, Incused Letters/Figures, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Between two circles One Ounce of Pure Silver above; Souvenir below; State Seal within inner circle; above, Colorado
REVERSE: Between two circles, around, A Century of Progress above; World's 1933 Fair below. Within inner circle, Use / Silver / to Restore / Prosperity / Trade Mark / Colo.
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