Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar is a commemorative coin issue dated 1903 . Struck in two varieties , the coins were designed by United States Bureau of the Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber . The pieces were issued to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in 1904 in St. Louis ; one variety depicted former president Thomas Jefferson , and the other , the recently assassinated president William McKinley . Although not the first American commemorative coins , they were the first in gold
recently assassinated
Assassination of William McKinley
Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar