The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition was a major World’s Fair that was held in St. Louis, Missouri. As part of the World’s Fair, the 1904 Summer Olympics were also held in St. Louis. Several medals were produced in connection with the 1904 World’s Fair. This is one of the so-called International Nickel Company Dollars from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition which is listed as HK-323 in the Hibler-Kappen book on So-Called Dollars and has been graded MS65 by NGC and is encapsulated in a newer-style edge-view holder. The obverse features a detailed portrait of Joseph Wharton who made a good amount of his fortune in the nickel business and was the first to produce malleable nickel. Wharton is more famous today as the founder of the Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania. This piece is very bright and extremely lustrous. Portions of the fields are also somewhat proof like which adds further to the flashiness of the piece. The reverse is also interesting as it shows several small cracks, particularly near the left edge. This piece is one of only ten (10) examples of the HK-323 graded at the gem MS65 grade by NGC. Only two (2) examples of the HK-323 have been graded finer by NGC, both grading only a point higher at MS66. A wonderful high-grade flashy gem example of this so-called dollar from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. |