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Sale 69
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Lot 1855
1883 Hawaiian Dollar. NGC graded MS-68. The finest known mint state Hawaiian dollar. Attractive, uniform toning and boldly struck. The Hawaiian coinage striking took place at the old Gray Lady Mint in San Francisco in 1883. In 1854, the San Francisco Mint opened its doors and began converting miners' gold into coins. In 1874 it moved to an imposing new facility, with walls of stone, resembling an ancient Greek temple where the Hawaiian coinage was made.
The Mint's production of coins was uninterrupted for 32 years, until the disastrous earthquake of 1906. Because the gas works were partially destroyed, operations stopped temporarily. But the beautiful, solidly constructed Mint building survived both the earthquake and the ensuing firestorm. Coinage continued in this building until 1937, when Mint workers moved to a larger, more modern facility, the present United States Mint at San Francisco.
This Finest Known example of the Hawaiian Dollar is immaculately preserved since the time of issue, with antique silver-gray surfaces. All areas display just the slightest hint of light smoky gold color in the fields. An exacting strike imparts complete sculpture to the design elements, including all the fine detail in the hair above the King’s temple and on his beard; the detailed reverse is also a delight for the numismatist with a magnifying glass and a directional light. Satin luster complements these attributes, all of which combine the result into a sense of elegant eye appeal.
Discussions of Heraldry in coin design have passed, like no-longer circulating words themselves, into desuetude. The modern reader's vision tends to lose focus. But thanks to a copy of the October 1883 issue of "The American Journal of Numismatics" we present a concise description of the reverse design of the famous Hawaiian silver dollar issue in the language of the late 19th century scholar. Readers have our consent to have a dictionary on their lap or fired up on a iPhone:
"The arms are quarterly, 1 and 4, barry of eight, arranged argent, gules, and azure, the bar in base being gules (the eight bars allude to the eight inhabited islands, and are arranged as the stripes in the national flag, in order of color); 2 and 3, argent," a " puloulou," or tabu stick, proper. This stick was a long rod, with a ball of "tapa" cloth at its top the white native cloth, prepared from bark. In former days, this staff with the cloth attached, and carried by one of the king's retainers, or by the followers of a high chief, had a peculiar significance. When the "puloulou " was left at the door of a native house it indicated that royalty was within, and it was death to enter, or pass it. When displayed at the four corners of a field, it signified that the land enclosed was appropriated by the chief who had placed them, and the same penalty followed any trespass. On the arms it alludes to the sanctity or inviolability of the government of the kingdom. The shield has for supporters two natives, in their old costume, the dexter holding a spear and the sinister the "kahili," or feather-topped staff, which was the badge of chief rank. An escutcheon of pretence bears gules, a fan (?) surmounted by two spears in saltire. This escutcheon is a portion of the royal arms, and does not, we are informed, pertain especially to the present ruler. Around the arms is the beautiful and poetic national motto UA MAU KE EA OKA AINA I KAPONO, signifying, "The life of the land is established in righteousness." On the left of the coat of arms is the numeral 1, and on the right D, and underneath AKAHI DALA, both meaning, "one dollar." At the bottom of the shield is the cross of an Order instituted by Kalakaua."
In closing, having released your breath from such a verbose undertaking, now is the time to grab it and take it back in, for the bidding on this remarkable Finest Known Hawaiian Dollar is sure to beat all records. Come to the sale prepared. Take note of the competition. It will be there on every side of you. For this coin tops all others in its denomination. One for the history books. Pop 1; none finer at NGC (PCGS # 10995) .
Historic Note: Samuel Mills Damon was born in Honolulu on March 13, 1845. He became a wealthy land owner in the Islands. After S. M. Damon died July 1, 1924, his estate (then estimated worth over US $250 million, a king’s ransom at the time) was left in trust to his grandchildren. At one time it was the fourth largest private landowner of Hawaii. In 2006 his coin collection alone was auctioned off for $3,884,000 by Doyle New York. It included an 1876 proof set from the US centennial as well as a magnificent collection of Hawaiian coins and paper money, of which this MS68 1883 Dollar is one of the linchpins.
Estimated Value $300,000 - 325,000.
Ex: S.M. Damon Collection; The Forsythe Collection.
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