So-Called Dollars

I see there isn't a category for these, maybe there should be one.
Any way I've been on the hunt for one of these for a long time.
I've even bid on some, but yesterday I was able to land one.

 

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Is there a standard reference work or these?

 

@Tall Paul
,https://www.so-calleddollar.com/books/

 

I think that it's pretty neat whatever it is.
What is it made of?

 

I think I have some confusion on these. I always thought the Williams Jennings Bryant "Free Silver" movement of the late 1800's that spawned a batch of politically themed pieces that generally showed a value of "Not Worth A Damn" were what we deemed as "so called dollars".... Am I off base here?

 

@SensibleSal66

 

If you go to the link provided, the book description has an explanation for what "so-called dollars" are.

 

I've got to check that out

I've got to check that out. I've always been curious about "so-called-dollars" but never knew much about them. I'm sure I have a few in my collections somewhere.

Bruce

 

Here's another SCD, this one was minted by George Soley, I'm pretty sure the one shown by @dwhiz was also made by Soley! He's the US Mint employee who used to take his steam powered coin press to various World's Fairs in the late 1800's to sell his medals and tokens! I included an article when Soley was stopped from selling his 13mm prayer tokens at the Philly Mint. Yeah one of my albums above has quite a few prayer tokens and others, if anyone is interested!

https://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/US_Centennial.html

 

@fretboard
Yes mine was design by George Soley .
Designed by Soley, these pieces greatly resemble Longacre pattern trade dollars.

 

I have two. I bought the one pictured not too long ago. It's hard to find pricing on SCD's.

 

A beautiful SCD. Thanks for showing it.

Bruce

 

This one is HK-380 made for the Hudson-Fulton Celebration


There are a bunch more made for the celebration but I don't have good photos of mine.

 

Looks copper to me.

 

Why were these made?

 

So, would about any larger medal count as a so-called dollar? Would this include 1 ounce silver rounds?

 

I got me one of those lol 1893 worlds fair token/dollar
got another as well but the ol brain ain't working to well tonight

 

Generally 1 oz silver rounds would not be counted as so-called dollars.

From the website:

"So-Called Dollars are medals approximately the size of a silver dollar that were struck to commemorate a U.S. historical event. Struck since the early 1800’s they fall into two categories, those associated with a major fair or exposition such as the 1892-1893 Columbia Exposition and those associated with an event in U.S. history such as the completion of the Erie Canal in 1826. In addition dollar-sized medals that are associated with the silver controversies, our national coinage or were actually designed as circulating media are also known as so-called dollars. Pieces were struck by the U.S. Mint as well as by private diesinkers. The following types of medals are not so-called dollars: military medals, religious medals, award medals, fraternal medals or advertising store card medals."

more here:
https://www.so-calleddollar.com/about-so-called-dollars/

 

Thank you. I just ordered a copy.