So-Called Dollars
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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 businessmen 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 fewer 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
Photos courtesy of Tom Hoffman
Obv. 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).
Rev. City seal in center circle; outside, around The Seal of the City of Seattle; below • 1909 •
HK-353 Silver. 32mm.
HK-354 Bronze.
HK-355 Copper.
HK-356 Gilt.
Photos courtesy of Brian Silliman
Obv. Similar to obverse of No. 353 [Exposition Seal], with slight design changes throughout and Expo instead of Exposition.
Rev. Similar to reverse of No. 353 [The Seal of the City of Seattle]
HK-356a Silver. 32mm.
OFFICIAL SOUVENIR DOLLAR
Photos courtesy of John Raymond
Obv. In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal above but without bust of Seward; above, around Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition:; below Seattle 1909
Rev. 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. 38mm.
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.
Photos courtesy of John Dean
Obv. In center is an involved decorative design with Utah / Exhibit on center oval; outside above, around Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition; below * 1909 *
Rev. 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. 38mm.
In original presentation case *
HK-359 Copper.
In original presentation case *
* Original presentation case is dark maroon leather jeweler's box, about 2 3/8 in. square. For No. 358, 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 No. 359, 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 1/2 D W T (50 cents) and 1/4 D W T (25 cents) sizes; sold for $2.50 for set; latter two do not qualify for listing here. Several die varieties are known, both obverse and reverse.
Photo shown twice actual size.
Photos courtesy of John Dean
Obv. 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.
Rev. Within open wreath is a shield; above shield is numeral 1; below shield DWT.; beaded border.
HK-360 Gold, size of Gold Dollar. 1 D.W.T. 14mm.
PRESIDENT TAFT DOLLAR
Photos courtesy of Tony Swicer
Obv. 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.
Rev. 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 Gold-plated Silver. 38mm.
W. H. SEWARD--CHIEF SEATTLE DOLLARS
Photos courtesy of John Raymond
Obv. In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above around Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; below * Seattle 1909 *; beaded border.
Rev. 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. 33mm.
Photos courtesy of John Dean
Obv. Souvenir / * * * / Alaska-Yukon / Pacific Exposition / Seattle, Wash. / * 1909 *; below, in small letters The Progressive Makers / Seattle. Wash. / Pat. Applied for; beaded border.
Rev. Same as reverse of No. 362 [Seattle / Seward].
HK-363 Bronze, reeded edge. 35mm.
HK-363a Silver-plated Bronze.
U.S. GOVERNMENT BUILDING DOLLARS
Photos courtesy of Bowers and Merena Auctions
Obv. Same as obverse of No. 353 [Three female figures, bust in small oval below].
Rev. Edifice, below U. S. Government Building
HK-364 Brass. 33mm.
Photos courtesy of Tom Hoffman
Obv. Same as reverse of No. 353 [Official Seal].
Rev. Same as reverse of No. 364 [U. S. Government Building].
HK-364a Brass. 33mm.
Photos courtesy of Stack's Rare Coins, New York, NY
Obv. In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above around Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909.
Rev. Edifice; below U. S. / Government •-- / --• Building
Photos courtesy of John Raymond
Obv. Similar to obverse of No. 365 [Seal similar to Exposition Seal] except lettering is smaller, 9 rays above central female figure instead of 7, dashes between Alaska--Yukon--Pacific, no colon after Exposition, and beaded border.
Rev. Edifice; below U. S. Government / * Building *; beaded border.
HK-366 Brass. 33mm.
Photos courtesy of Donald Ensley
Obv. Similar to obverse of No. 365 [Seal similar to Exposition Seal] except lettering is smaller, 19 rays above central female figure instead of 7, dashes between Alaska--Yukon--Pacific and beaded border.
Rev. Edifice; below • U. S. Government / Building; beaded border.
HK-366a Brass. 33mm.
Photos courtesy of Heritage Galleries (HA.com)
Obv. In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above, around Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909; beaded border.
Rev. Edifice; above Alaska-Yukon-Pacific / Exposition; below edifice, in small letters, U. S. Government Building; below Seattle 1909; on bottom r. of building, Schwaab Milwaukee; beaded border.
HK-367 Brass, reeded edge. 36mm.
HK-367a Bronze.
MANUFACTURES BUILDING DOLLARS
Photos courtesy of John Dean
Obv. In center is Seal similar to Exposition Seal but without bust of Seward; above, around Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; below Seattle 1909
Rev. Edifice; below Manufactures / Building
HK-368 Brass. 33mm.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Brecher
Obv. Similar to obverse of No. 366 [Three female figures].
Rev. Similar to reverse of No. 368 [Edifice] except obviously different die; Manufactures is misspelled Manufacturfs; also, there is period after Building.
HK-368a Brass. 33mm.
