Token - 1904 MO G50C H-61-330, Louisiana Purchase Expo NGC MS64

Here’s an attractive—and dramatic—example to include in your numismatic collection. The obverse depicts a fleur-de-lis that carries the initials L, P, E upon it (for Louisiana Purchase Exposition). Upon the stem is the initial ‘Z’ for Farran Zerbe. Upon the obverse is also found 14 stars and the date 1904. The reverse presents the legend ‘LOUISIANA GOLD’ above and below, and ‘1/2’ is centered within a circle. NGC has graded 24 as MS64 with 3 finer.

Poster for the Louisiana Purchase Expo, where this issue was sold in St. Louis during 1904. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

It was in 1902 that President Theodore Roosevelt  signed legislation authorizing 250,000 gold one-dollar pieces to be produced by the U.S. Mint and provided to organizers of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Expo in St. Louis as part of the government subsidy for the fair.

At the recommendation of important fellow coin-collecting aficionados, Farran Zerbe secured the position of chief numismatist to the St. Louis fair. He was in charge of selling the coins and medals put on sale by the U.S. government, including the gold 50 cent piece offered by AUCM. Under authorizing legislation for early commemorative coins such as the issues that Zerbe distributed, the entire mintage was sent to the Expo commission, which made all the profit it could by selling them at a premium to the public.