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


Obverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description: SC$1 1906 CO HK-336 SOUTHWEST EXPEDITION PIKE'S PEAK
Grade: NGC MS 64
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, AR Oxidized Finish, SOUTHWEST EXPEDITION, PIKE'S PEAK, United States, Colorado, So Called Dollar, HK-336, NGC MS64, Cert# 2584755-005. Obv. Male bust, part r.; around Zebulon Montgomery Pike. 1779-1813; Rv. Mountain peak, below Pike's Peak--within center circle; outside, around Southwest Expedition • Commemorative Medal; below • Colorado 1806-1906 •PIKE'S PEAK, "SOUTHWEST EXPEDITION," CENTENNIAL COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. Purpose: To commemorate 100th anniversary of discovery of Pike's Peak ("sighted" Nov. 15, 1806) by Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike during his Southwest Expedition, 1806-07, following Louisiana Purchase. Organization: Pike Monument Association formed December 1896; planned to erect statue of Pike "of heroic size and in enduring bronze" and "to…forever maintain…monument and historical data." This Celebration 10 years later was staged by Association; financed by public contributions and sale of medals; bronze statue never did materialize. Organization disappeared shortly thereafter. Site, Dates: Colorado Springs, Colorado; Sept. 23 to 29, 1906. Medals: Official Medals authorized by 59th Congress; designed by C. E. Barber; struck at Philadelphia Mint. Mint records reveal issue limited to 250 Silver proof, 250 Gold-plate, 4,200 gray-oxidized Silver and 6,250 Bronze; sold through local banks and Chamber of Commerce; Bronze for 50 cents, Silver for $1; 65% of all were looped. Some authorities insist these quantities were ones "ordered," that issue actually was smaller. In any event, of total struck, large portion was delivered by Mint apparently too late for sale; they were stored and forgotten for 49 years. In 1955 these 4,000 pieces were found in basement of old First National Bank Building during demolition. Historical Society of Pike's Peak Region, Inc. directed their sale to help finance 1956 Celebration (no new or additional medals struck for latter event). Again, most were mounted but loops were "expertly removed to make…acceptable to Collectors" and many do defy detection. Colorado newspapers of 1906 cautioned public to buy "only the genuine authorized medal" as an imitation had appeared on market. This piece, too, is listed here. (See also "The Southwest Expedition Medal" by C. S. Yowell, The Numismatist, issue Jan. 1956). HK-336 Silver, gray-oxidized finish. Rarity-4.

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