Owner Comments:
SO-CALLED DOLLAR APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
TOP POP: Brilliant Gem Uncirculated (Images courtesy of NGC PhotoVision)
*An exceptionally rare so-called dollar in immaculate condition. ~10% of original luster remains in the most protected areas of the obverse/reverse, as the deep tangerine orange shines through on the outer-edges of the specimen, as well as various spots near the devices on the observe. The lettering on the uniface dollar is so sharp and well struck, it appears enhanced. The eye-appeal is truly remarkable and a highlight to this collection. Additionally, the denticles are pristine and exceptionally well-defined. — NGC has graded a mere 40 examples in BN (Brown) and 6 in RB (Red-Brown) as of July 2022. Of the 40 BN, this specimen resides at the very top amongst 2 others as tied for the finest known to exist. — SC$1 was originally in an older scratched-up NGC slab. Submitted to NGC for re-holdering and PhotoVision. The photos provided are stunning.*
SO-CALLED DOLLAR BACKGROUND:
The HK-876 1905 ‘Denver Mint Opening’ SC$1 has been on my want list for over a decade. I find having obtained this example in February of 2022 all the more special due to the fact I thought I would likely never own one; not to mention a specimen at the top of NGC’s population report. It’s not often all aspects of a coin purchase fall into place perfectly (availability, grade, authentication company, eye-appeal, listed price, buyer financial situation, competition, etc.). In this case, they did. — As noted by its background below and how that ties into the history of the Denver Mint, as well as both Colorado numismatics and so-called dollars in general, the piece becomes all the more significant to this collection. With this being the first product of the Denver Mint, one could make the argument that this is one of the most important issues in the entire ‘The J. Perry Collection of Colorado Coins and Exonumia’.
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“This medal actually was the first product of the Denver Mint, struck in 1905 to test new machinery and, some believe, new dies for a $20 gold piece. Piece is about the size of a double eagle and was issued as a souvenir at official opening ceremonies of the Mint in early 1906. Despite the statement that ‘thousands were struck,’ the medal was unobtainable at the Mint following the ceremonies and was ‘decidedly scarce’ in Denver.“ — Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen
DESIGNER: Unknown
CATALOG NUMBER: HK-879
RARITY: Mintage unknown; Hibler and Kappen note the issue as “decidedly scarce”
(*TOP POP* NGC POP = 4; NONE Finer - NGC Total Pop = 56): [10/2022]
Rarity Level 6 = ~21-75 Known - Designated "Rare to Very Rare"
SO-CALLED DOLLAR DESCRIPTION:
(Denver Minted, Bronze, 35mm, Round, Reeded Edge)
OBVERSE: Denver / 1905; beaded border.
REVERSE: Blank; beaded border.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
“As the end of 1905 approached, officials at the Denver Mint were getting ready for the new facility’s grand opening, testing the equipment to make sure the plant would be ready to start striking coins the next year.
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The government had wanted a federal Mint established in Denver since the Civil War era, when the Colorado region was the center of a silver and gold rush. The government had even purchased a private mint in Denver in 1862, but officials chose not to strike federal coinage there, blaming the “hostility of the Indian tribes along the routes” for not beginning an official coinage. Instead, the building was first used as a refuge from the Indians for women and children and then as a federal assay office instead. Decades later, in December 1895, Congress authorized a Mint in Denver; nearly nine years later, in September 1904, operations of the old Assay Office were transferred to the new facility. However, the new Denver Mint was not ready to strike coinage yet.
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The next year, 1905, saw the facility begin processing local silver and gold ore though the Mint still was not prepared to strike coins. Finally, on Nov. 1, 1905, a coinage press was fired up and the first pieces were struck. They were not coins, though.
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The press was used to strike uniface bronze medals the diameter of a gold double eagle. The design was exceedingly simple, with one side reading DENVER 1905 and the other side blank. The medal has a dentiled rim on both sides and a reeded edge. The striking of the medals was part of a ceremony celebrating the opening of the Mint. Colorado’s governor and other government officials participated in the event and examples of the medal were presumably passed out to attendees.“ — Credited Source: Coin World