So-Called Dollars

Louisiana Purchase Exposition - 1904 - St. Louis, MO

Purpose: To commemorate 100th anniversary of Louisiana Purchase, "second in importance in nation’s development only to American Revolution."

Organization: This was our 4th largest exposition. With St. Louis having been Territorial Capital in 1804, civic leaders and Missouri Historical Society campaigned vigorously within organization of Louisiana Purchase states and territories to secure celebration. Favorably decided at January 1899 convention of delegates in St. Louis. Exposition Co. chartered May 1901; public subscription to stock. City floated large bond issue; state granted $1,000,000; Congress $5,000,000.

Site: About 1270 acres, parts of Forest Park and campus of Washington University. Of hundreds of structures, only portion of Art Palace was permanent; now serves as City Art Museum

Dates, Attendance: Original opening set far April 30, 1903 but size and scope caused deferment. However, "Dedication Ceremonies" were held then, attended by President Roosevelt and Ex-President Taft. Finally opened April 30, 1904; closed Dec. 1, 1904. Attendance about 20,000,000; 13,000,000 paid.

Participants: On Aug. 20, 1901, President McKinley invited "all countries of the world to participate in this greatest of Expositions" which would "demonstrate America’s progress since the Louisiana Purchase...promote friendly relations and the exchange of knowledge throughout the peoples of the world." All states and territories and "dozens" of foreign countries represented, scores erecting own buildings. Extensive Federal displays included Mint Exhibit.

Comment: Fifteen major exhibition Palaces radiated in fan pattern from central Festival Hall in "setting of lagoons, boulevards, gardens, fountains and sculpture" (1,200 pieces of statuary). Electric light, sign of progress then, used "lavishly" for both decoration and illumination. Featured were motor car, aeronautics and wireless telegraphy—all at their earliest, most exciting stage of development; spotlight on auto which had traveled from New York City to St. Louis, then "an unprecedented feat and a hazardous journey." Olympic Games held during Exposition in first concrete stadium built in U. S.

Medals: Official Souvenir medals below struck in Mint Exhibit on grounds; total of all medals "about 90,000." Silver was .600 fine; sold first for $1, later for $1.25. Yellow Bronze "tarnished quickly" so was replaced by plain Bronze; these, plus Gilt, sold for 25 cents each; in Gold-plate for 50 cents. Only one medal was struck in solid Gold (see Numismatist, issue January 1911, p. 5). Exposition was prolific issuer of medals of all kinds.

OFFICIAL SOUVENIR MEDALS

Obverse: Conjoined busts l. (Napoleon & Jefferson); above, around Louisiana·Purchase·Exposition ; below all Official Souvenir ; beaded border.
Reverse: Relief map of U. S. with Louisiana Purchase across that portion representing extent of purchase; above Louisiana Territory / 1803 / 1,000,000 Square Miles / $15,000,000.; below map St. Louis 1904, beaded border.

HK-299 - Silver. Size 21.
HK-300 - Gold-plated Bronze.
HK-301 - Copper.
HK-302 - Yellow Bronze
HK-303 - Bronze
HK-304 - Gilt

SOUVENIR COINS OF ADMISSION

Called by some "handsomest metal products" of exposition. Issued by Louisiana Purchase Souvenir Coin Co., in no way connected with exposition company. Round specimen appeared first at cost of 50 cents; purchaser entitled to guess number of total paid admissions, winner to receive $50,000 in gold! Promoters planned office at exposition entrance to redeem medals for admission tickets.

Scheme launched at same time as Official Souvenir Coin Department of exposition became active and public long thought same was part thereof. Situation finally clarified by press releases.

Obverse of medal bears crowned bust of Louis IX resembling that on Isabella quarter; also reverse bears word "coin." U. S. Treasury Department was asked by exposition to rule on both points but apparently no action taken. However, after "less than 25,000" round medals were sold, "a large order" was placed for octagonal shape. Almost concurrently, company disappeared following failure to secure either official recognition or concession privileges and octagonal issue bought up by souvenir and coin dealers. Most medals bear serial number on reverse, round ones under No. 25,000, octagonal ones over No. 25,000.

Obverse: Crowned male bust l., to l. 1803, to r. 1903; above, around Souvenir Coin of Admission; below, on bust Saint Louis; beaded border.
Reverse: Relief map of U. S. showing extent of La. Territory, above is spread-winged eagle atop twin draped flags; two seated female figures below map with oval seal between, containing serial number of individual coin; to l. 19, to r. 04; above all, around Louisiana Purchase Souvenir Coin Co. Saint Louis; beaded border.

HK-305 - Brass. Round. Size 21.
HK-305a - Brass. Round but without serial number in oval seal on Reverse.
HK-306 - Brass. Octagonal. Size 21 x 21.
HK-307 - Brass. Octagonal but without serial number in oval seal on Reverse.

Image provided by John Dean

Image provided by John Dean.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DOLLAR

Obverse: Male bust front; above, around Pres. Theo. Roosevelt; beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice and grounds; above, around Hall of Festivals and Central Cascades / Exposition St. Louis 1904; beaded border —(on edge, incuse microscopic Silber .990. Perhaps this was intended to mean .990 silver).

HK-308 - Silver Proof. Size 24.

MISSOURI DOLLAR

Struck by Robbins Co., Attleboro, Mass.; issued on Missouri Day.

Obverse: State Seal within beaded circle; outside, around * Missouri * Empire State of Louisiana Purchase
Reverse: Edifice, above (in small letters) Missouri Building; above St. Louis, Oct. 11.; below edifice 1904 - all within beaded circle; outside, around Presented by Missouri Commission; below * World’s Fair *

HK-309 - Bronze. Size 24.

Image provided by John Dean

GOOD-LUCK DOLLAR

Obverse: Conjoined busts l. (Napoleon and Jefferson); above, around Napoleon Sold It—April 30th—Jefferson Bought It—; below busts 1803; beaded border.
Reverse: In center a horseshoe entwined in ribbon, four leaf clover above; 7 stars above and below; on ribbon St. Louis / 1903-4 / Exposition, to l. Good, to r. Luck; above all, around Louisiana Purchase; below all, around Stars and Stripes Forever; l. side, small Pat’d, r. side, small 1903; beaded border.

HK-310 - Brass, reeded edge. Size 23.
HK-311 - Aluminum. Rare

Image provided by Jonathan Brecher

HISTORICAL SOUVENIR DOLLARS

Obverse: 5 small conjoined circles, edifice in each, a star at upper l. and r. and at lower l. and r.—all within large center beaded circle; outside above Louisiana Purchase Exposition.; below * St. Louis, U. S. A. *; beaded border.
Reverse: Within large center wreath "The Best and / Noblest Efforts of / Twenty Centuries / Concentrated on / Historical Soil. The Sun / May Never Shine It’s / Glowing and Life / Giving Rays on Such / Splendor Again"; crossed flags and shield below, on shield 1904; above all, around Historical Souvenir World’s Fair; beaded border.

HK-312 - Aluminum. Size 27.

Obverse: Involved scene portraying Louisiana Purchase by Uncle Sam from French maiden (?) with Vive La Republique on ribbon at top, 1803 and 1903 in wreaths at upper l. and r. respectively and busts of Bonaparte and Jefferson at lower l. and r. respectively; in large letters, above around Louisiana Purchase Exposition; below 1803 St. Louis 1904
Reverse: Gardens and tower with edifice in background; above Worlds Fair St. Louis / small Cascade Gardens.

HK-313 - Brass, reeded edge. Size 24.

PAX DOLLAR

Obverse: Female bust facing, rays above, both hands holding ribbon across chest bearing PAX all within center circle; outside, above Commemorating the Louisiana Purchase 1803; below St. Louis World’s Fair 1903-4; beaded border.
Reverse: In center circle is a sailing ship with rays above; outside above Commemorating the Discovery of America 1492; below Chicago World’s Fair 1892-3; beaded border.

HK-314 - Aluminum. Size 24.

EXHIBITION PALACE DOLLARS

Obverse: Gardens and edifice; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below gardens Cascade Gardens; beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice and grounds; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice Government Building / 764 Feet Long / Cast $450,000; beaded border.

HK-315 - Brass, reeded edge. Size 23.
HK-316 - Aluminum, reeded edge.

Image provided by Jonathan Brecher

Obverse: Same as obverse of No. 315
Reverse: Edifice and grounds; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice Palace of Liberal Arts / —525 by 750 Feet— / Cost $475,000; beaded border.

HK-317 - Brass, reeded edge. Size 23.
HK-318 - Aluminum, reeded edge.

Obverse: Edifice; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice Palace of Electricity / 525 by 750 Feet / Cost $399,940; beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice Temple of Fraternity / 200 by 300 Feet / Cost $200,000; beaded border.

HK-319 - Aluminum, reeded edge. Size 23.

Image provided by John Dean

Obverse: Edifice; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice ,i>Palace of Machinery / 525 by 1000 Feet / Cost $497,000.00; beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice Palace of Mines and / Metallurgy / 525 by 750 Feet / Cost $500,000; beaded border.

HK-320 - Aluminum, reeded edge. Size 23.

Obverse: Edifice; above Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice Palace of / Varied Industries / 525 by 1200 Feet / Cost $604,000; beaded border.
Reverse: Upper and lower edifices; below upper edifice Palace of Transportation / 525 by 1300 Feet Cost $696,000; below lower edifice Palace of Art / 836 Feet Lang / Cost $1,000,000; beaded border.

HK-321 - Aluminum, reeded edge. Size 23.

Image provided by John Dean

Obverse: Edifice and grounds; above Palace of Agriculture; on grounds, at lower l., Lauer; below edifice and grounds Saint Louis World’s Fair / 1904; very finely beaded border.
Reverse: Edifice; above Machinery Building; below edifice Saint Louis World’s Fair / 1904; very finely beaded border.

HK-322 - Aluminum, reeded edge. Size 23.
NOTE: Above is only one of Exhibition Palace medals bearing Lauer’s name; also it is slightly larger, has more finely beaded borders barely visible; reads Saint Louis as against St. Louis. Most authorities agree, however, that Lauer probably executed entire series.

Obverse: Edifice; above, around, Worlds Fair St. Louis; below edifice, Palace of Manufacturers / —525 by 1200 Feet— / Cost $719,000; beaded border.
Reverse: Same as reverse of No. 317 (Palace of Liberal Arts).

HK-322a - Aluminum, reeded edge. Size 23.
HK-322a - Brass.

INTERNATIONAL NICKEL CO. DOLLAR

Obverse: Bearded bust r.; above around Malleable Nickel First Produced in 1865 by.; below bust Joseph Wharton Sc.D., L.L.D.
Reverse: Around at top American Malleable Nickel; across, between small round designs, International / Nickel Company / 1904; below, around St. Louis Exposition

HK-323 - Nickel. Size 21.