Lot 1460
1883 Hawaiian Dollar. PCGS graded MS-62. A hint of light gold toning. Semi prooflike surfaces. Well struck. The present specimen displays smooth, ice-white devices that would settle for nothing less than a full Choice grade while surrounding is light prooflike iridescence from the field. Quite scarce above AU level since many were melted (only 46,348 net mintage after 453,652 were melted). Fortunately for the strike, it, like the luster, is outstanding. A well-struck Dollar with good details. There are no bothersome abrasions or points of wear. Pop 21; 46 finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 10995) .
Following is the description from the October 1883 issue of "The American Journal of Numismatics" describing this issue of silver coins for the Kingdom of Hawaii before it was known that a dime-sized coin was to be substituted for the eighth-dollar denomination:
KALAKAUA I, the King of the Hawaiian Islands, has recently had dies prepared for striking silver coins for his realm, brief allusion to which was made in the last number of the Journal. These dies were executed at Philadelphia, under the direction of the Mint authorities, and the money is to be struck by permission of our Government in the Mint at San Francisco. There are to be four denominations Dollars, Halves, Quarters and Eighths bearing substantially the same devices. The Dollar shows on the obverse the naked bust of the King to observer's right, surrounded by the legend, KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII, and the date, 1883, at the bottom. It is said by those who have seen the coins, that " the profile head of the King compares favorably with that of many rulers of much more important countries," and that " the coinage itself, in beauty of design and character of workmanship, is quite equal to that of many of the older nations of Europe." Whether this be a correct judgment we can better deter- mine hereafter. On the reverse will be seen blazoned the royal arms. The shield is displayed on a mantle, which, in an engraving of the piece we have seen, seems to be ermine. The national "mantle," however, in the arms, is properly the famous feather cloak, such as was worn by Kamehameha the Great, and his chiefs, in the ancient and prosperous days of the islands, and which forms the "royal robe" of the present king on State occasions; above the shield is the royal crown.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
From the 9/09 Hawaii Collection.
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| Realized $4,600 |
