Expert: Neil S Berman - 10/7/2007

Question
Written across the top is "KALAKAUA 1 KING OF HAWAII" Picture of man in center facing right, full beard, mustach and side burns. Two small raised circles on each side a few cm. away from the writting. Date on bottom is 1883.
Around entire front circle on edge is tiny raised lines.
The back: Same tiny raised lines around edge, Writing across the top: UAMAUKE EA OKA AINA I KA PONO. Center picture is what looks like a fancy tent with a fancy top with what looks like a cross on top (I think) two people inside the tent one on each side. A large number 1 or letter I at the left bottom of tent and on the right bottom of tent a capital D. Across bottom reads: AKAHI DALA


Answer
I really don't know what you have but it is not a coin. King Kalakaua did not issue any gold coins at all, and the description does not match any of his copper or silver coins either. What you probably have is a modern gold plated token of some kind. This is all I can do without a photo. nsberman@msn.com