So-Called Dollars

IOWA STATE CAPITOL
1890
DES MOINES, IA

Second annual Pageant of Seni Om Sed [Des Moines, backwards], fictious King of the Harvest and of Plenty, held Sept. 2-5, 1890 in Des Moines, Iowa in conjunction with the Iowa State Fair. Pageant intended to rival Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Veiled Prophets of St. Louis. 1890 event featured unveiling of world’s first electric automobile on Sept 4, following introduction of electric street lights two years earlier. Attendance of 100,000 in 1890, declining until event abandoned in 1920s.

TYPE I


Photos courtesy of W. David Perkins

Obv. Crowned and bearded male bust l. within center circle; outside above Des Moines; below Sept. 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 1890; beaded border.
Rev. Edifice; above Iowa State Capitol; below Cost $3,000,000.00; beaded border.

HK-619 White Metal. 37mm.

TYPE II

Following issue could be product of World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago 1893. Medal bears no date but reverse is identical with reverse of No. 161.


Photos courtesy of Tom Hoffman

Obv. Same as reverse of No. 619 [Iowa State Capitol].
Rev. Same as reverse of No. 161 [Malleable, Tasteless...].

HK-620 Aluminum. 37mm.

HK-618 to HK-618a