1884-85 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial

New Orleans, Louisiana

One-third of all U.S. Cotton passed through the port of New Orleans in the early 1880s. The main exposition building was the largest exhibition hall constructed up to that point. Every state and all but one U.S. territory participated along with nine foreign countries. The U.S. government building included a mint exhibit where they struck white metal examples of the official medal SH 4–1 and, according to the official guidebook, U.S. silver, dollars, presumably, with an O mint mark. 18 different so-called dollars were struck in various compositions for this exposition. The details are cataloged in my 2023 book So-Called Dollars Volume I: United States Expositions. Click on the “View All” link below to see them.

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So-Called Dollars Category SH 4:

World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition Official Medal

1884 · SH 4-1 WM · HK-142 · White Metal

Engraved by George T. Morgan and struck in the U.S. Mint Exhibit at the Exposition.…

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World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition Official Medal

1884, 1885 · SH 4-1 BZ · HK-142A · Bronze

Engraved by George T. Morgan and struck in the U.S. Mint Exhibit at the Exposition.…

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Industrial Cotton Souvenir Medal

1884 · SH 4-2 BS · Brass

The exposition hall is featured, with an eagle and shield above. The obverse is signed…

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Industrial Cotton First Bale SCD

1884 · SH 4-3 WM · White Metal

The obverse includes the portrait of the director, General, E. A. Burke, in a cartouche…

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Industrial Cotton Pickers SCD

1884 · SH 4-4 BZ · Bronze

The obverse shows black laborers picking cotton with the engraver’s signature, ALF. VESTER., PROV. RI.,…

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Industrial Cotton Liberty Bell Loaned SCD

1884 · SH 4-5 BZ · HK-144A · Bronze

This so-called dollar commemorates the extraordinary event of the loan of the symbol of democracy…

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Industrial Cotton Liberty Bell Returned SCD

1884 · SH 4-6 BZ · Bronze

Similar to SH 4-5; same Liberty Bell obverse die. The reverse commemorates the return of…

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Industrial Cotton Liberty Bell / Globe SCD

1884 · SH 4-7 WM · HK-143C · White Metal

Representation of the Liberty Bell on the obverse with the inscription commemorating the loan to…

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Industrial Cotton Pelican / Globe SCD

1884 · SH 4-8 WM · HK-143B · White Metal

The coat of arms for the state of Louisiana forms the central device on the…

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Industrial Cotton Mardi Gras / Globe SCD

1884 · SH 4-9 WM · HK-143A · White Metal

Similar to SH 4-8, the seal of the state of Louisiana is replaced with the…

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Industrial Cotton Reunion Mexican War SCD

1884 · SH 4-10 WM · White Metal

The obverse commemorates the reunion of veterans of the Mexican War at the exposition. The…

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Industrial Cotton Fire Department SCD

1884 · SH 4-11 WM · HK-143D · White Metal

The obverse features a shield design that was used on fire department helmets, to commemorate…

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Industrial Cotton Union Confidence SCD

1884 · SH 4-12 WM · White Metal

A composite shield on the obverse, with an eagle and various scenes of transportation and…

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Industrial Cotton Blue and Gray SCD

1884 · SH 4-13 WM · White Metal

The obverse design commemorates the meeting of the Blue and Gray in New Orleans, putting…

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