1457

1915-S Pan-Pacific $50 Octagonal NGC MS64 [L#1457

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:32,500.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 75,000.00 USD
1915-S Pan-Pacific $50 Octagonal NGC MS64 [L#1457
A satiny matte-like delight with strong underlying luster and faint coppery golden highlights. Nicely struck with no sign of weakness anywhere on either Minerva or the owl. It would grade gem MS65 were it not for a slight mark on the cheek and one or two others in Minerva's Corinthian helmet.

In 1915 visitors from all over the world converged on a veritable new city that had been built of lath and plaster on the San Francisco shore front. Building upon the tradition established by the 1876 Centennial Exhibition (Philadelphia), 1892-1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago), the 1900 Paris Exposition, the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, and other such events, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition showcased marvels of technology, art, history, and science.

After the event ended, nearly everything was torn down. An exception was the Palace of Fine Arts, which, while never intended to be a permanent structure, survived to be used to store fire engines and other municipal equipment. In recent times it has been restored. This building in 1915 was the numismatic focal point of the Exposition. Under its huge dome was Farran Zerbe's Money of the World exhibit and, after the fair's closing, his concession to sell the remaining Panama-Pacific coins by mail order.

America's fairs and expos usually revolve around a theme. For 1915, the fair organizers honored the discovery of the Pacific Ocean (1513) and the aforementioned completion of the Panama Canal (1914) as the dual anchor points for their theme. A series of 5 coins was struck for the occasion, including complete sets mounted in metal frames or leather cases, and sold for $200. Many sales were made to banks and other novices; for this reason, high grade examples, especially of the two $50 gold denominations, are a challenge to find. The larger the denomination, the harder to locate. Some were also carried as souvenir pieces, in fact. When all was said and done, only 483 Round $50 gold pieces were sold with 645 Octagonal $50 gold pieces. And it can be assumed (though no separate records were kept in this regard) that numerous specimens in the hands of the public were melted after the federal government seized America's gold coins in 1933. We estimate there are 200 or so of the round $50 pieces remaining.