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3855

1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal--Spot Re

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:16,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 2.00 USD
1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal--Spot Re
<B>1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal--Spot Removed--NCS. Unc Details.</B></I> The technical specifications for most commemoratives are fairly obvious. Typically, the law stipulates a weight and fineness identical to that of the existing denomination. Sometimes, however, there is no such precedent. The bimetallic Library of Congress ten dollar commemorative of 2000 is a modern example, but the coins of interest for classic commemorative collectors are the round and octagonal Panama-Pacific fifty dollar pieces of 1915. The fineness is identical to that of circulating coinage of the era, that is, .900 fine, alloyed with copper. These mammoth pieces stretch a full 1.74 inches (44.2 centimeters) from tip to tip on the octagonal, with a diameter of the same size for the round. They weigh 83.55 grams apiece, logical enough, given how close the value is to two-and-a-half times the weight of a double eagle. At the given fineness, this translates to more than 2.4 ounces of pure gold. The "slugs" of Augustus Humbert were 60 years in the past. These grand commemoratives were unlike anything most people had ever seen, but whether they recognized it or not these octagonal pieces were a numismatic tribute to the "slugs" from the Gold Rush days.<BR> The surfaces of this coin are an interesting study in themselves. It appears that there were several streaks of copper alloy on the obverse that eventually turned green. Someone saw these as a defect and tried to remove them. Unfortunately, it was not done with the greatest care. As a result, each green streak still remains but is now overlaid with noticeable (with a magnifier) hairlines. A few small contact marks are also located in the centers, but the coin appears quite pleasing at arm's length.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coin/Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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