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Alaska Souvenir Gold - 1897-1911

Coinage of small Alaska gold pieces, including Alaska-Yukon-Pacific, Pinch and Parka series, were made for the M. E. Hart Co., 560 Powell St., San Francisco, Calif., which issued them. Said to have been sold first at the AYP Exposition in 1909, all may be termed very scarce to extremely rare.

PINCH SERIES, DATED 1897-1901

Obverses: all bear Indian head in feathered headdress, facing to right or to left, with date below; completely surrounded by circle of 5-pointed stars, evenly spaced; 13 stars on some, 16 on others. Different Indian facial expressions have caused some to be labeled "handsome," others "ugly" or "fierce."
Reverses: have large One in center with Alaska Gold above and Pinch below - all with wreath, open at top. Letters on some pieces are larger than on others.

There are two thicknesses; normal round type weighs 23½ grains; normal octagonal, 18 grains. Thin specimens of both types, much rarer than thick, weigh 12 grains. All have beaded borders; reeded edge on round pieces, plain on octagonal; all size 8.

HK-838 - 1897. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; round.
HK-839 - 1897. Gold. Head facing to l.; 13 stars; octagonal.
HK-840 - 1897. Gold. Head facing to l.; 16 stars; octagonal.
HK-841 - 1898. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; round.
HK-842 - 1898. Gold. Head facing to r.; 13 stars; round.
HK-843 - 1898. Gold. Head facing to l.; 13 stars; octagonal.
HK-844 - 1898. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; octagonal.
HK-845 - 1899. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; round.
HK-846 - 1899. Gold. Head facing to l.; 13 stars; octagonal.
HK-847 - 1899. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; octagonal.
HK-848 - 1900. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; octagonal.
HK-849 - 1901. Gold. Head facing to r.; 16 stars; octagonal.


Image provided by John Dean


Image provided by John Dean


Image provided by John Dean

PARKA HEAD SERIES, DATED 1911

Believed to have been dated 1911 to commemorate golden anniversary of earliest discovery of gold in Alaska (1861) by Eskimos.

Obverse: bears bust of Eskimo, in parka hood, facing to right or left; below, 1911; 10 or 11 stars around.
Reverse: In center, line representing horizon; above, sun and rays; below One; top legend, around, Alaska Gold below, wreath. Beaded border. Weight, 16 grains.

HK-850 - 1911. Gold. Head facing to I.; 11 stars; round.
HK-851 - 1911. Gold. Head facing to r.; 10 stars; round.