test 123

In December 1902, the Philadelphia Mint struck 75,080 gold dollars. These were dated 1903, a violation of normal Mint practice to have the date of striking on the coin. This was not unprecedented; the 1900-dated Lafayette dollar had been struck in December 1899. It is not known which gold dollar was first struck. In January 1903, an additional 175,178 pieces were coined; the excess of 258 over the authorized mintage was set aside for testing by the annual Assay Commission.^[9] There is no difference between those pieces struck in 1902 and those minted in 1903.^[3] Fifty thousand pieces were sent to the St. Louis sub-treasury on December 22, 1902, to await the organizing committee’s compliance with other parts of the law, most likely relating to the required posting of a bond.^[3][4]

The first 100 specimens of each design were struck in a proof finish. These were mounted on cardboard with presentation certificates and presented to favored insiders and Mint officials; they were not available to the public. The certificates were signed by Superintendent Landis, and by Rhine R. Freed, Chief Coiner of the Philadelphia Mint. The coin was placed inside a holder with wax paper window, secured into place with heavy string with that mint’s seal.^[10] These were the first commemorative gold coins struck by the United States.^[11]

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