Original 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Official Souvenir Medal, the HK-299 .600 fine silver issue, designed by legendary U.S. Mint engraver George T. Morgan, creator of the Morgan silver dollar.

The obverse features conjoined portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte and Thomas Jefferson, representing the two leaders central to the Louisiana Purchase. The reverse depicts a detailed map of the United States highlighting the Louisiana Territory and is inscribed “LOUISIANA TERRITORY 1803 / 1,000,000 SQUARE MILES / $15,000,000 / ST. LOUIS 1904.”

This is not simply a generic World’s Fair souvenir. The official medals were struck in several different metals, and HK-299 is the silver version, struck in .600 fine silver with a standard weight of approximately 19.75 grams and diameter of approximately 34 mm.

These medals have another particularly interesting numismatic connection: they were designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the U.S. Mint exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, making them an unusual crossover between World’s Fair memorabilia, U.S. Mint history and classic American exonumia.

The silver issue was substantially more expensive at the fair than the ordinary copper and bronze medals. PCGS notes that most copper and bronze examples sold for 25 cents, while the silver version originally sold for $1 and later $1.25.

A great piece for collectors of George T. Morgan, So-Called Dollars, HK-299, U.S. Mint medals, 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair memorabilia, Louisiana Purchase material, Jefferson or Napoleon.

The medal is ungraded and shows surface marks and age-related wear as pictured. You will receive the exact medal pictured. Please review all photographs carefully for condition.