1903
JEFFERSON GOLD DOLLAR, NGC PROOF 66 Click on Coin Image to
enlarge
1903
Gold $1.00 Jefferson NGC PF66
- $25,900.00
1903 Jefferson Gold
Dollar - 1903 Gold $1.00 Jefferson NGC PF66. In its
population report, NGC shows 3, certified at the PF66
grade level with none higher. Proof Gold Commemoratives
are so undervalued they seem a relative bargain when
compared with regular issue US gold proofs.
This rare, eye-appealing Superb Gem
proof 1903 Jefferson commemorative dollar is tied
for the finest known at NGC. It has extremely clean
surfaces with no visible hairlines or contact marks.
The piece is well struck with full details on the
cheekbone, hair, and the dates on the reverse. The
coin is a mixture of yellow gold with shades of orange
and green in the fields. These colors show its originality.
The devices are fully lustrous against darker backgrounds,
which create a semi-prooflike effect.
The coin was designed by Charles Barber assisted by
George T. Morgan. It was inspired by a 19th century
medal by John Reich that was designed based on a bust
of Jefferson by the sculptor Houdon. The obverse shows
a left facing profile of a bewigged Jefferson surrounded
by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The reverse
shows the denomination ONE DOLLAR in two lines and the
dates 1803-1903, also in two lines. The denomination
and dates are separated by a sprig of laurel that is
off center to the right. The whole is surrounded by
the inscription ST. LOUIS LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION.
Since the act that authorized the coinage for the
exposition did not prohibit more than one design,
Farran Zerbe, a prominent numismatist of the time
and advisor to the project, suggested that there be
two different gold dollars. One celebrated Thomas
Jefferson, who was president at the time of the Louisiana
Purchase, and the other William McKinley, who was
president when the exposition was authorized. McKinley
was assassinated in 1901 so he never saw the implementation
of the act he signed into law.
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United
States at the time. It consisted of 828,000 square
miles of France’s claim to the territory of
Louisiana. The United States paid about 15 million
dollars, in cash and cancellation of debts, which
was less than 42 cents per acre. The land purchased
contains all or part of 15 present states and two
Canadian provinces. France had planned to build an
empire in the New World, but a slave revolt in Haiti
and an impending war with Britain force her to abandon
these plans and sell the territory to the United States,
which had only intended to purchase New Orleans and
its adjacent lands. Jefferson faced opposition because
it was thought the purchase was unconstitutional.
Although the constitution did not contain a provision
for acquiring territory, Jefferson decided to make
the purchase in order to remove France from the region
and protect U.S. trade access to New Orleans and free
passage on the Mississippi River. Of course, Jefferson
recognized the importance of the purchase. He said,
“We have lived long, but this is the noblest
work of our whole lives…From this day the United
States take their place among the powers of the first
rank.”
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as
the St. Louis World’s Fair, was supposed to
open in 1903; however, delays postponed it until April
1904. It remained open until December 1904, after
about 20 million had visited its exhibits. It was
built on a large piece of land in Forest Park, St.
Louis. The 1,272 acre parcel was one of the largest
uses of land for an event of this type. There were
15 major buildings, including four art palaces, numerous
smaller buildings, exhibit areas, gardens, fountains,
and other attractions. Items of great interest at
the time were automobiles, the wireless telegraph,
other uses of electricity, and dirigibles. Numerous
works of artists and sculptors were on display.
One hundred proof specimens of each of the two designs
were struck. There were distributed to favored insiders
and government officials. The following notation was
included with each coin: This is to certify that the
accompanying Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar
struck at the Mint of the United States, Philadelphia,
in accordance with an Act of Congress approved June
28th, 1902, is one of the first one hundred impressions
from the Jefferson [or McKinley] dies.”
Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United
States Mint. He became Chief Engraver after the death
of his father, William. He served from 1879 to 1917.
He is best known for his designs of the “Barber”
dime, quarter, and half dollar. In addition he designed
the Liberty Head nickel, several commemoratives, and
the Flowing Hair Stella pattern. Barber was born in
London in 1840. He came to the United States in 1852
with his family. His father became an engraver at
the Mint in Philadelphia. Following Longacre’s
death, William Barber became the Chief Engraver and
made his son, Charles, his assistant. In 1879, Charles
Barber became the Chief Engraver despite the fact
the George T. Morgan may have been more qualified
or at least more talented. William Barber, Charles’
father, had been an engraver in England. He worked
for the Mint in Philadelphia and became Chief Engraver
in 1869 after James Longacre died on New Year’s
Day. In 1875 Charles married Martha Jones. They had
a daughter, Edith. Martha died in 1898, and Charles
remarried in 1902 to Caroline Gaston.
After William Barber’s death, George T. Morgan
was also being considered to replace him. However, a
few months later, Charles was named to the position.
During the time that he was Chief Engraver, he was responsible
for the 1883 Hawaiian coinage: the silver dime, eighth
dollar, quarter, half dollar, and dollar. He also designed
coins for Cuba and Venezuela. Later he designed the
obverse of the Columbian half dollar and both dies for
the Isabella quarter. Barber also was responsible for
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollars, the
Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollar, the obverse
of the Panama-Pacific Exposition half dollar, and the
quarter eagle, along with George T. Morgan. Barber also
designed the obverse of the McKinley Memorial dollar.
When President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to redesign
the coinage of the United States, he felt that he was
in a “private war” with Charles Barber.
Because Roosevelt felt that Barber was not an imaginative
engraver, he enlisted the help of Augustus Saint-Gaudens
and later Bela Lyon Pratt to remake America’s
coinage. Barber was critical of the new designs and
pointed out their impracticality. Eventually his view
prevailed, and he reduced the relief of the Saint-Gaudens’
works.
Morgan was born on January 4, 1845 in Birmingham,
England. Morgan attended the Birmingham Art School
and won a scholarship to the South Kensington Art
School. He worked as an assistant under the Wyons
at the British Royal Mint. In 1876 Morgan immigrated
to the United States and was hired as an assistant
to William Barber at the United States Mint. Morgan
reported directly to Mint Director Henry R. Linderman,
whose office was moved to Washington D.C. in 1873,
no doubt upsetting Engraver Barber and his son, Assistant
Engraver, Charles Barber. Morgan was involved in the
production of pattern coins from 1877 until his death
in 1925. He designed varieties of the 1877 half dollar,
the “Schoolgirl” dollar of 1879, and the
“Shield Earring” coins of 1882. He became
the seventh Chief Engraver in 1917 with the death
of Charles E. Barber. Today, Morgan is most known
for his design of the Morgan Dollar of 1878 to 1921.
A recently found, although never released design was
for the $100 Gold Union.
By some standards his career was a disappointment. He
was an Assistant Engraver for over forty years and during
that time designed only one regular issued United States
coin, the famous Morgan Dollar. In 1917 Charles Barber
died. Morgan, at age 72, finally became Chief Engraver.
Only 80 to 90 proof Jefferson gold dollars are known
to exist. In its population report, NGC shows 3, certified
at the PF66 grade level with none higher.
