One (1) dollar coin
Hawaii, 1883
Obverse Image: Right facing portrait of Kalākaua, the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
Obverse Text: KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII / 1883
Reverse Image: The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Reverse Text: UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO / 1 D / AKAHI DALA
Hawaii produced this silver dollar coin featuring the profile of King Kalakaua of the Hawaiian Islands (1836 – 1891) in 1883. Kalakaua silver coinage was based on designs by California sugar baron, Claus Spreckels, and Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Charles Barber. Spreckels financed the production of the coins at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco, California. Because gold currency was the preferred medium of exchange for settling debts in both the U.S. and Hawaii, some members of the business community refused to accept the silver Kalakaua coinage. Much of the higher value Kalakaua coinage was melted down when Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898.