ALASKA SOUVENIR GOLD 1897-1911. HK-838, 1897. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; round.
THIS SO-CALLED DOLLAR TYPE IS NOT LISTED IN THE NGC CENSUS AS HK-838. THIS TYPE IS LISTED AS "1897-DATED ALASKA HEAD RIGHT, ROUND, PINCH 1P", WITH AN NGC UNIVERSAL ID OF DH8P UNDER THE CENSUS HEADING "CALIFORNIA & STATE FRACTIONAL GOLD TOKENS".
AN NGC AU 55 EXAMPLE WAS SOLD BY HERITAGE AUCTIONS IN 2016 FOR $881.25.
THIS EXACT MEDAL WAS SOLD BY HERITAGE AUCTIONS IN 2006 FOR $747.50.
Coinage of small Alaska gold pieces, including Alaska-Yukon-Pacific, Pinch and Parka series, were made for the M. E. Hart Co., 560 Powell St., San Francisco, CA, which issued them. Earliest sale records predate the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909.
PINCH SERIES, DATED 1897-1901
Obvs: all bear Indian head in feathered headdress, facing to right or to left, with date below; completely surrounded by circle of 5-pointed stars, evenly spaced; 13 stars on some, 16 on others. Different Indian facial expressions have caused some to be labeled "handsome," others "ugly" or "fierce."
Revs: have large One in center with Alaska Gold above and Pinch below--all with wreath, open at top. Letters on some pieces are larger than on others.
There are two thicknesses; normal round type weighs 23 1/2 grains; normal octagonal, 18 grains. Thin specimens of both types, much rarer than thick, weigh 12 grains. All have beaded borders; reeded edge on round pieces, plain on octagonal; all 13mm.
MY NGC REGISTRY SET "BRUCE THOMAS COLLECTION OF SO-CALLED DOLLARS AND OTHER MEDALS" WAS VOTED AS THE BEST CUSTOM SET FOR 2018 BY THE NGC REGISTRY AWARDS. I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND THANKS TO NGC FOR THIS HONOR.
I WILL BE LISTING MANY MORE EXONUMIA ITEMS IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING MANY SO-CALLED DOLLARS, DEWITT LISTED POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MEDALS, AND OTHER UNITED STATES HISTORIC MEDALS. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY LISTINGS TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION.