Owner Comments:
1904 LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPO OFFICIAL SOUVENIR MEDAL
YELLOW BRONZE SO-CALLED DOLLAR HK-302
HENDERSHOTT 30-200,
PCGS MS65
PCGS Certification #49314473
SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Yellow Bronze
Diameter: 33 mm
Manufacturer: United States Mint (Coined in the U.S. Government Building at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair)
Rarity: R4
OBVERSE DESIGN
The Central design element of the obverse is conjoint busts of the French Emperor Napoleon and U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. Inscriptions are: "LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION" and "OFFICIAL SOUVENIR "
REVERSE DESIGN
The Central design element of the reverse is a high relief contour map of the United States. The Louisiana Purchase is highlighted on the map and there is a radiating star designates St. Louis MO the site for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Inscriptions above the map read: " LOUISIANA TERRITORY", "1803", "1,000,000 SQUARE MILES"' and "$15,000,000." Inscriptions below the map read: "St. LOUIS 1904"
Souvenir medals were minted daily by the United States Mint in the U.S. Government building, on a coining press brought from Philadelphia. The medals, which were struck in seven different compositions, were very popular with the visitors to the fair. About 100,000 Official Souvenir Medals were sold at the exposition, most of which were in bronze.
Each medal came in an 2" x 2" paper official souvenir medal envelope (Hendershott 20-210). Printed on the envelope in blue ink was the following statements: " Charles S. Muir has the right to coin the official Medal of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in the U.S. Government Building on the Exposition grounds. D.R. Francis President"
Below that was a second statement reading: "The Official Souvenir Medal in this envelope was coined by the U.S. Mint machinery in operation in the U.S. Government Building, St. Louis, 1904."
This attractive GEM is fully original with flashy yellow luster. It is one of the PCGS Plate coins for the HK-302 variety.
Pedigree: Ex. Dr. Greg Pineda Collection
PCGS Population: 6 (October 5, 2024)
PCGS POpulation Higher: 3 (October 5, 2024)
Purchased from Lyn Knight Auctions in their August 29, 2024 Selections from the Dr. Greg Pineda & Neil Shafer Collections of the Philippines Auction, Lot #126454
Holder Type: PCGS Gold Shield