1433

1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Octagonal PCGS MS65

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:10.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Octagonal PCGS MS65
From a mintage of only 645 coins for this date. This coin has light golden toning covering frosty details underneath and lustrous surfaces. Completely original.

Superb Gem Uncirculated. Elusive as a Gem and better, and certainly more challenging than the round $50 is in similar quality. It is easy to see this piece was delivered a hard blow by the dies, and just as obvious that the dies were brand new and carefully set in the high-impact medal press to impart the requisite force which imparted their sharpness to the struck planchet.

Today the five different coins issued in connection with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition stand as the high-water mark of American commemoratives. The $50 octagonal is legendary in U.S. federal coinage, both for its size ($50 or two and one-half ounces of 900 Fine gold) and format. The artistry was by Robert Aitken, noted sculptor and coin designer whose handiwork presents Minerva, goddess of the harvest, wearing a Corinthian plumed helmet. (The Romans identified their goddess of war as Minerva. She ranked third among their gods, after Jupiter and Juno. Minerva also was worshiped as the goddess of wisdom and of crafts, namely weaving and spinning.) Aitken used a more down-home emblem for his reverse, a "wise" owl perched upon a pine branch. Minerva's owl is golden and beautiful, and we'll just say "wise" on this foremost of all U.S. commemorative gold pieces! What more spectacular way to preserve the occasion than with this well struck, satin-gem Mint State 65 certified by PCGS.

A coin an exact match for this one sold this year at auction for $149,500.