1981 Hawaiian Gold 1/4 Ounce - RHM X#MB3, Kalakaua I

Coin Details

Description

The 1981 Royal Hawaiian Mint Quarter-Ounce Gold Kalakaua I is a privately struck gold bullion piece featuring the portrait of King David Kalakaua I, the Hawaiian monarch most closely associated with the kingdom’s numismatic legacy. Cataloged as X#MB3 in the Krause world coin reference (the "X" prefix designating a non-governmental issue), this quarter-ounce gold piece was produced with a mintage of 1,000 pieces — a quantity calculated to balance collector accessibility with numismatic scarcity. The Royal Hawaiian Mint was a private enterprise that produced a series of gold and silver pieces featuring Hawaiian monarchs, cultural symbols, and historical themes beginning in the early 1980s. The organization capitalized on the dual appeal of gold bullion investment and Hawaiian numismatic collecting, offering pieces that served both as precious-metal holdings and as extensions of the Hawaiian coinage tradition. The choice of Kalakaua I as the subject for this issue was natural. Known as "The Merrie Monarch" for his enthusiastic patronage of Hawaiian music, dance, and cultural arts, Kalakaua remains the most numismatically significant Hawaiian ruler thanks to the 1883 silver coinage that bears his portrait. The Royal Hawaiian Mint’s gold issue effectively extends Kalakaua’s numismatic presence into precious-metal territory that the historical coinage program never reached — no official Hawaiian gold coins were ever produced. At 7.78 grams (one quarter troy ounce) of gold, this piece contains a meaningful quantity of precious metal. The 1981 issue date places it during the early years of the modern gold bullion market, shortly after the United States legalized private gold ownership in 1974 and before the establishment of the American Gold Eagle program in 1986.

Rarity Notes

Limited mintage of 1,000 pieces. Quarter-ounce gold content provides intrinsic value. Collector premium above gold melt value reflects the Hawaiian numismatic theme.

Cross References

Krause X#MB3; PCGS #967870; Royal Hawaiian Mint; Quarter-ounce gold bullion; Kalakaua I portrait