So-Called Dollars

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition - 1909 - Seattle, WA

Purpose: "To prove to ... world ... enormous value of Alaska to United States and ... greatness of its entry port, Seattle"; to exhibit "... development, resources, products and advantages" of State of Washington.

Organization: City business men formed association 1906; visited Orient, securing cooperation there. Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Commission created by 1907 Legislature to work with Exposition Co., chartered 1906; $1,000,000 stock of latter sold in one day. City, county, state and University of Washington granted total of $2,500,000; Congress $600,000.

Site: Almost 200 acres in northeast Seattle, bordering Lakes Union and Washington; grounds now part of University of Washington campus.

Dates, Attendance: June 1 to Oct. 16, 1909. Attendance 3,750,000; about 2,000,000 paid.

Participants: California, Utah and Washington erected own Buildings as did British Columbia, China, Hawaii, Japan and Yukon Territory. Additional states and few more foreign countries represented on more limited basis. Federal displays included Mint Exhibit.

Comment: Exposition "built on economic base far more uncertain than any ... since"; emphasized agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining. Population then less than 100,000 but tripled overnight. Entire Pacific Northwest benefited substantially in fashion that was "immediate ... and far reaching."

Medals: Official Medals struck in Mint Exhibit on grounds; sold by concessionaire Joseph Mayer & Brother, Seattle; Silver for $1; Bronze, Copper and Gilt for 25 cents.

OFFICIAL MEDALS

Obverse: Three female figures; below is bust l. within small oval; above bust around, but within oval, W. H. Seward; above all, around Alaska - Yukon - Pacific - Exposition (This was Official Seal of Exposition).
Reverse: City seal in center circle; outside, around The Seal of the City of Seattle; below · 1909 ·

HK-353 - Silver. Size 21.
HK-354 - Bronze.
HK-355 - Copper.
HK-356 - Gilt.

OFFICIAL SOUVENIR DOLLAR

Obverse: In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal above but without bust of Seward; above, around Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909
Reverse: In center, between scrolls above and below, Approved / (signed) J. E. Chilberg / President / (signed) I. A. Nadeau / Director General; above all Official Souvenir; below all Alaska Yukon · Pacific Expo.

HK-357 - Bronze. Size 24.

Image provided by John Dean

UTAH DOLLAR

Sponsored by State of Utah and sold in Utah Building on grounds. Silver specimen has incuse Sterling on reverse at lower right border and microscopic Dieges & Clust. N. Y. is at center of lower border, below date 1896. Copper has Virgin Utah Copper (not incuse) on reverse at lower left border and microscopic Dieges & Clust. N. Y. is at lower right border.

Obverse: In center is an involved decorative design with Utah / Exhibit on center oval; outside above, around Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; below * 1909 *
Reverse: In inner circle is State Seal; in a second outer circle, around The Great Seal of the State of Utah 1896; around latter is another circle, serrated; at lower border, microscopic Dieges & Clust. N. Y. (see above).

HK-358 - Silver. Size 24.
HK-359 - Copper.
NOTE: In original presentation cases, these medals are even more valuable. Cases are dark maroon leather leweler’s boxes, about 28 in. square. For Silver, bottom of box is lined with purple velvet and top with purple satin; latter inscribed "Compliments / Utah Commission / Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition / Seattle, 1909." For Copper, box has purple velvet lining, top and bottom, but no inscription.

GOLD DOLLAR

Privately issued by M. E. Hart Co., San Francisco, sponsors of many gold tokens between 1908 and 1915. This 1 D W T piece is 10K (.4166 fine) and was accompanied by ½ D W T (50 cents) and ¼ D W T (25 cents) sizes; sold for $2.50 for set. Several die varieties are known, both obverse and reverse.

Obverse: A standing miner, holding pick over r. shoulder, l. hand on hip; spade and pan in background behind his legs; to l. 19, to r. 09; above all, around * * * Alaska Gold * * *; below all A. Y. P. E.; beaded border.
Reverse: Within open wreath is a shield; above shield is numeral 1; below shield DWT.; beaded border.

HK-360 - Gold, size of Gold Dollar. Size 9.

Image provided by John Dean

PRESIDENT TAFT DOLLAR

Obverse: In center is involved design similar to Exposition Seal above but without bust of Seward and with large spread-winged eagle below 3 female figures; outside, around Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909; wreath around all.
Reverse: Large spray to l.; across To / Commem- / orate the / Visit of / Wm. H. Taft / President of / the U. S. to / the A. Y. P. E. / Sept. 30th / 1909; at lower edge, small Mayer Bros. .900.

HK-361 - Bronze. Size 24.

W. H. SEWARD—CHIEF SEATTLE DOLLARS

Obverse: In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above around Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; below * Seattle 1909 *; beaded border.
Reverse: Busts upper l. and r.; below l. bust Chief / Seattle; to l. and below r. bust W. H. Seward / Father / of Alaska; below is mining scene, ship and, in background, setting sun; below, on ribbons Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition; below is microscopic N.C.W. & S.N.Y.; beaded border.

HK-362 - Brass, reeded edge. Size 21.

Image provided by John Dean

Obverse: Souvenir / * * * / Alaska-Yukon / Pacific Exposition / Seattle, Wash. / * 1909 *; below, in small letters The Progressive Makers / Seattle. Wash. / Pat. Applied for; beaded border.
Reverse: Same as reverse of 362.; beaded border.

HK-363 - Bronze, or silver-plated Bronze, reeded edge. Size 22.

Image provided by John Dean

U. S. GOVERNMENT BUILDING DOLLARS

Obverse: Same as No. 353
Reverse: Edifice, below U. S. Government Building

HK-364 - Brass. Size 21.

Obverse: In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above around Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909.
Reverse: Edifice; below U. S. / Government,— / —. Building

HK-365 - Brass. Size 21.

Obverse: Similar to that directly above except lettering is smaller, 9 rays above central female figure instead of 7, dashes between Alaska—Yukon—Pacific and beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice; below U. S. Government / Building ; beaded border.

HK-366 - Brass. Size 21.

Image provided by John Dean

Obverse: In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above, around Alaska—Yukon-Pacific Exposition:; below Seattle 1909; beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice; above Alaska-Yukon-Pacific / Exposition; below edifice, in small letters, U. S. Government Building; below Seattle 1909; beaded border.

HK-367 - Brass, reeded edge. Size 23.

MANUFACTURES BUILDING DOLLARS

Obverse: In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above, around Alaska—Yukon—Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909
Reverse: Edifice; below Manufactures / Building

HK-368 - Brass. Size 21.

Image provided by John Dean

Obverse: Same as 368 obverse.
Reverse: Similar to above reverse except obviously different die; Manufactures is misspelled Manufacturfs; also, there is period after Building.

HK-368a - Brass. Size 21.