Coin Reference Library
Gold Commemoratives

1903 $1 Louisiana Purchase McKinley

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

This was the second souvenir gold coin minted for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held at Forest Park in St. Louis from April 30 - December 1, 1904. The obverse bears the design of President William McKinley who sanctioned the Exposition. The McKinley portrait was from life. William McKinley had sat for his portrait on Charles E. Barber's presidential medal. The medal had managed to receive the sarcastic accolade of "Deadly" from Augustus St.-Gaudens. President McKinley, who had signed the Exposition into law as of March 3, 1901, was assassinated at another Exposition in September 1901. A new obverse die portraying McKinley was made and not known which dollars were struck first.

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