Coin Reference Library
Gold Commemoratives

1903 $1 Louisiana Purchase Jefferson

Mintage: 17,500
* Some Proofs exist
Designer: Charles E. Barber

This souvenir gold coin was minted for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held at Forest Park in St. Louis from April 30 - December 1, 1904. This was the first of two varieties of gold dollars authorized for the Exposition. The obverse bears the design of Thomas Jefferson who was president when the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France. The Exposition's Souvenir Coin Department; Charles E. Barber copied the Jefferson portrait from John Reich's Indian peace medal of Jefferson which was then reportedly in the Mint Cabinet collection. The coin was offered at $3.00 a piece, but few sold. The coin was not well publicized and its competition with the Expositions own mint-made medal was much more attractive. Many of the gold dollars were made into stickpins, bangles, charms and brooches, destroying their numismatic value. Still others were sold with separate mountings.

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