Marking the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, the 1903 McKinley gold commemorative dollar honors the president just months before he was assassinated signed legislation to fund the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. The 1904 Louisiana Exposition was the place where these gold dollars and the similar 1903 Jefferson gold dollars were sold for $3 each. Interestingly it became the first United States coin to bear the image of a martyred president, coming six years before the Lincoln cent debuted in 1909 to honor the slain 16th president.

The McKinley gold dollar, designed by Charles E. Barber, was mostly saved as a numismatic souvenir of the fair and most known specimen survive in Mint State grades. The majority fall in the MS62-66, while MS67s are highly scarce, and MS68s are very rare. Many examples showcase decent luster and overall nice eye appeal.