Token - 1904 MO G50C H-61-330, Louisiana Purchase Expo NGC MS65PL

Here’s a beautiful—and historic—piece to add to your collection. The obverse presents a fleur-de-lis with 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 has the legend ‘LOUISIANA GOLD’ above and below, while ‘1/2’ is centered within a circle. NGC has graded 12 as MS65 Prooflike with 7 finer.

Farran Zerbe, who was chief numismatist for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Photo: 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 Purchas Expo in St. Louis. At the recommendation of important fellow coin-collecting aficionados, Farran Zerbe secured the position of chief numismatist of the St. Louis fair. He was in charge of selling the coins and medals put on sale by the U.S. government, which included the gold 50 cent piece. The entire mintage was sent to the commission, and Zerbe and the others made all the profit they could by selling them at a premium to the public.