In the summer of 1909, a world's fair, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, took place on the grounds of the University of Washington. It was just one in a succession of world's fairs that took place in the United States following the tremendous popularity of the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. Local civic boosters successfully developed plans for such a fair in Seattle, intended to promote the region's economic and cultural ties to Alaska, the Canadian Northwest, and the Pacific Rim. The exposition opened on the grounds of the University of Washington on June 1, 1909.

The encased cents below are just one example of the many various types of souvenirs that were produced to commemorate the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Pictured here are nine of the twelve known examples of  AYPE encased cents.