The 1917 McKinley commemorative gold dollars were struck to drum up monetary support for a memorial honoring the slain president. William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio, and that is where the memorial referenced on this coin was built in 1915. The commemorative dollar, designed as a joint venture by Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan, features a bust portrait of McKinley on the obverse and a depiction of the memorial on the reverse.

While a fair number of these coin entered circulation -- many even becoming jewelry -- the majority are known in uncirculated grades. Most are in the grade range of MS62-66, while a scarcer number are known in MS67 or higher grades.