1883 Proof Hawaiian Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$138,000 PR65 11-01-2008 Stack's

Description

The 1883 Proof Hawaiian Dollar is the ultimate prize in Hawaiian numismatics — a coin that combines extraordinary rarity with the full artistic and historical weight of the Kalakaua silver coinage program. Struck at the San Francisco Mint from specially polished dies by Charles E. Barber, the proof Akahi Dala represents the pinnacle of Hawaiian coinage in both concept and execution. At 38.1mm in diameter and 26.73 grams of.900 fine silver, the proof dollar matches the Morgan Dollar in size and composition. The proof striking process transforms Barber’s already accomplished designs into a tour de force of numismatic artistry. The obverse portrait of Kalakaua achieves extraordinary depth and dimensionality, with the king’s facial features, military uniform, and royal decorations rendered in frosted relief against a flawlessly mirrored field. The reverse is equally spectacular in proof format. The Hawaiian coat of arms, arguably the most complex reverse design on any American-standard coin of the period, unfolds with crystalline clarity. Every element — from the crown at the apex to the motto banner at the base, from the warrior’s spear to the individual feathers of the kahili — is struck with complete, unwavering precision. The proof dollar was the centerpiece of any presentation set assembled for diplomatic or VIP distribution. Given the extreme rarity of surviving examples, the total proof mintage was almost certainly fewer than fifty pieces and was as low as twenty. Unlike the business-strike dollars, proof specimens were invariably preserved by their original recipients and have passed through a succession of elite collections. The proof Hawaiian dollar stands alongside the great rarities of American numismatics — a coin whose rarity, beauty, and historical significance combine to create an object of almost mythic desirability among collectors of territorial and world coinage.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Estimated proof mintage fewer than 50 pieces, as low as 20. One of the most valuable Hawaiian coins. Auction records regularly reach six figures for examples in choice condition.

Cross References

Medcalf-Russell 2CS-9; KM-7; PCGS #10997; Proof striking