| The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Official Souvenir Medal was produced for the 1904 St. Louis fair where the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase was celebrated. These official souvenir medals were struck in various metal compositions including silver, gold, gold-plated bronze, copper, yellow-bronze, bronze and gilt. They were designed by George Morgan and his initial M appears at the base of Jefferson’s shoulder. Approximately 90,000 medals were struck in total at the Mint Exhibit located on the fairgrounds. This example of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Official Souvenir Medal was struck in Yellow-Bronze and is listed as HK-302 in the Hibler-Kappen reference on So-Called Dollars. This 1904 HK-302 Medal has been graded MS66PL by NGC and is encapsulated in a newer-style edge-view holder. The medal is very lustrous on both sides and has an amazing bright gold color with just a couple of tiny areas of slight haze. There are some light handling marks on the high points of the obverse which features the busts of Jefferson and Napoleon. The reverse, which features a map of the United States and an outline of the Louisiana Purchase, is very attractive and nearly mark free. The Swoger reference on National Commemorative Medals shows six (6) different reverse varieties of this medal. The piece here has the error variety reverse or unfinished die reverse as it is missing the star and rays on the map at St. Louis. This piece is one of the finest known examples of the HK-302 graded by NGC, and as the
lone PL designated specimen graded, it may be the very finest. There are three (3) examples grading numerically higher at MS67, but they do not have the PL designation. Here is your opportunity to own the only prooflike designated specimen of this popular so-called dollar and perhaps the very finest example known. |
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