Blogs

The 1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar

Do you have a question about anything numismatic? Want to know what’s going on here at Stack’s Bowers Galleries? If so, send your inquiries to AnswersfortheAvidCollector@StacksBowers.com and get a response to your important questions from our team of experts! 

Question: I read somewhere that you consider the 1905 Lewis and Clark gold dollar to be the rarest of the commemorative gold dollars. Considering that 10,041 of the 1905 Lewis and Clark gold dollar were made and only about 5,000 of each of the 1922 Grant gold dollars, what makes the 1905 Lewis and Clark the rarest?

 

Answer: The answer lies in the method of distribution. Most of the 1905 Lewis and Clark gold dollars were sold as souvenirs to the general public. Over a period of time, thousands became damaged or lost. On the other hand, the 1922 Grant gold dollars were nearly all sold to numismatists who preserved them. Thus, on an absolute basis, more Grant gold dollars survive today, despite the lower original mintage. In terms of high grade Mint State coins, a 1905 Lewis and Clark is much rarer than a 1922 Grant.

Join our mailing list

Don't miss an auction!

Subscribe to our newsletter.

 

Contact Us

West Coast Office • (800) 458-4646

Midwest Office • (800) 817-2646

East Coast Office • (800) 566-2580

info@stacksbowers.com
 

Hong Kong, China Office • +852 2117 1191

infohk@stacksbowers.com
 

Copenhagen, Denmark • +45 80 40 49 42

infodk@stacksbowers.com

Global locations

Additional representatives
available worldwide.

Follow Us




Subscribe to
Our Newsletter

We are sorry, an unexpected error occurred!
Please enter a valid email address

I'm Interested In...

Thank You!

Thank you for subscribing to the Stack's Bowers Galleries e-newsletter.