Owner Comments:
Medal, 1939, AR, CHARBNEAU DOLLAR (GGIE), San Francisco, CA, So Called Dollar HK-487 AR, NGC MS64, Cert# 3462967-004. GOLD DOLLAR-SIZE (CHARBNEAU) DOLLARS. Obv. Tower and exposition grounds, bridge in background; above, around Golden Gate Int. Exposition; below all 1939 (or 1940); at l. border, microscopic C M J
Rev. Large head, of sculptured or idol type, facing front; above Pacifica; below Sterling; on l. bar of hair, microscopic C M J. Designed and issued by Jules L. Charbneau, San Francisco fine arts appraiser and dealer. Total pieces struck, both years, 2,500 Gold, sold for $5; 500 Silver and 50 Copper, sold for $1 each. There were two Gold and Silver issues, one dated 1939, other 1940 but it cannot be established if Copper was also struck each year. Sale was disappointing and bulk of entire issue was melted down. Reverse bust of Pacifica, "Queen" of fair, taken from her full statue, located on grounds at entrance to Cavalcade of the Golden West exhibit. Size: 12mm. These are now rare in any grade and in any metal. Rarity-7. Auction prices realized for MS64 silver, $850 to $2000. Same grade specimen sold at the Ostheimer Sealed Bid Auction in Chicago on August 19, 2011 for $2,024. Cataloged as a J6 in the new book “Discover the World of Charbneau Dollars” from the Golden Gate International Exposition by Jeff Shevlin and Bill Hyder. Jules Charbneau used the bust of Pacifica for the obverse design with the tower of the sun edifice on the reverse. Charbneau struck these medals in gold, silver and copper, this being the silver variety with the legend STERLING on the obverse below the bust. With two graded finer in 65 at 64 this is tied for the second highest grade.