So-Called Dollars

Colorado's 'Century of Progress' Dollars - 1933

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.

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.

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.

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.

TYPE I

Only 300 issued. Placed on sale Feb. 2, these were sold quickly to members of Chamber of Commerce and of Denver Real Estate Exchange and to their friends.

Obverse: Between two circles, A Century of Progress above and Souvenir below; State Seal within inner circle; above, Colorado
Reverse: Within circle, around One Avdp. Ounce Fine Silver ; below, 1933; across, in center, Silver / Will Restore / Prosperity / to / Colorado

HK-867 - Silver. Size 24.

TYPE II

Sale of this type started Feb. 6, 1933. Of 2000 struck, only 700 were issued and remainder melted down for striking of fourth and final type. Some writers have reported that 2700 were struck. The 2000 figure is that of the Colorado State Board of Immigration. All reports agree on the 700 figure.

Obverse: Same as Type I.
Reverse: Same as Type I, except to Colorado omitted. These words eliminated because they tended to localize importance of silver.

HK-868 - Silver. Size 24.

TYPE III

Sale began Feb. 16. Of 2000 struck, those unsold were melted (number unknown to authors), together with Type II pieces not issued, and silver used to strike Type IV.

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.

HK-869 - Silver. Size 25.

TYPE IV

Total struck reported to have been 10,000. Numbers issued and melted (if any melted) unknown to the authors. Mining scene on obverse of this type is somewhat similar to that on Lesher Dollars of more than 30 years before. Colorado does not appear above Seal on reverse of Type IV.

Obverse: Within circle, mining scene; below, Use Silver to / Restore / Prosperity; within circle and beaded border, * Century of Progress * above; 1833 · World’s Fair · 1933 below.
Reverse: Within circle, State Seal, Trade Mark below; outside around, between circle and beaded border, *** One · Ounce · of · Pure · Silver *** above; Colorado below.

HK-870 - Silver. Size 25.