1903 G$1 LA Purchase, McKinley (Regular Strike)

Series: Gold Commemoratives 1903-1926

PCGS MS68

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PCGS MS68

PCGS #:: 7444

Designer:: Charles E. Barber

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 14.30 millimeters

Weight:: 1.70 grams

Mintage:: 17,500

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $25,850 • MS68 • 04-27-2016 • Heritage Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (2)

Major Varieties

1903 G$1 LA Purchase, McKinley
1903 G$1 LA Purchase, McKinley, PL

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For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	9,000	R-3.2	10 / 13	10 / 13
60 or Better	8,000	R-3.4	10 / 13	10 / 13
65 or Better	2,500	R-4.5	7 / 13 TIE	7 / 13 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	9,000
60 or Better	8,000
65 or Better	2,500

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-3.2
60 or Better	R-3.4
65 or Better	R-4.5

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	10 / 13
60 or Better	10 / 13
65 or Better	7 / 13 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	10 / 13
60 or Better	10 / 13
65 or Better	7 / 13 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Image	Pedigree and History
1	MS68 PCGS grade
1	MS68 PCGS grade
3	MS67+ PCGS grade
3	MS67+ PCGS grade
5	MS67 PCGS grade
5	MS67 PCGS grade
5	MS67 PCGS grade
5	MS67 PCGS grade
5	MS67 PCGS grade
5	MS67 PCGS grade

#1 MS68 PCGS grade

#3 MS67+ PCGS grade

#5 MS67 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

The Louisiana Purchase Gold Dollars were intended to be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. The authorizing legislation of June 28, 1902 gave the Secretary of the Treasury broad discretion in selecting the designs for the coin. Thomas Jefferson was chosen as one subject because he was President when the Louisiana Purchase was concluded. William McKinley was chosen for a second subject in part because of agitation by numismatist Farran Zerbe for a second variety, in part because the Louisiana Expo was authorized under McKinley's tenure, and in part because McKinley had been assassinated in 1901.

The 1903 LA Purchase/McKinley Gold Dollar has the distinction of being the second U.S. coin to bear the portrait of a "real" American (the first was the 1900 Lafayette Dollar, with conjoined busts of George Washingtonand the Marquis de Lafayette), and the first coin to bear the portrait of a martyred President (Lincoln didn't make it onto a coin until 1909).

Gem examples of this date are plentiful, as evidenced by the PCGS Population Report and the PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census (CC). The two best examples known of this type are a pair of PCGS MS68s, one of which was certified in 1999, and the other of which is a recent entry into the census. Finding a nice example of this design type should be a relatively easy task.