1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS64 NGC....

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Near-Gem 1915-S Pan-Pac Fifty Dollar Octagonal

1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS64 NGC. The 1915-S Panama-Pacific octagonal fifty dollar pieces (and their round siblings) have much in common with another memorable U.S. gold coin, the MCMVII (1907) High Relief double eagle of Saint-Gaudens' legendary design. Apparently the authors of 100 Greatest U.S. Coins think so too: Coincidentally, they are listed as Nos. 25 (the High Relief) and 26 (the Pan-Pac pieces, octagonal and round) in the Jeff Garrett-Ron Guth reference. (The Top 20 coins were selected by members of the Professional Numismatists Guild, with the authors choosing the remainder.)
The Pan-Pac fifty dollar gold coins are the largest-denomination coins and the most impressive, from a sheer size standpoint, of the various gold and silver issues that constitute the "classic era" U.S. commemoratives of the 1892-1954 era. (Some modern-era [1982-present] commemoratives are of larger nominal denominations but smaller sizes.) The octagonals hearken back in spirit and form to the massive, marginally useful "quintuple eagles," "adobes," or "slugs" of the 1851-52 Territorial era of California gold. (The discussion of whether the Humbert-U.S. Assay Office fifties are a federal or Territorial issue is a discussion for another day.) In terms of their pleasing aesthetics, sculptural approach, and desirability, however, for most people the Pan-Pac octagonals more closely resemble the celebrated High Relief Saint-Gaudens double eagles, of a more nearly contemporaneous date. This pantheon of memorable gold coins will likely be augmented in 2009 when the Mint issues a true Ultra High Relief gold double eagle in a double-thick or "piedfort" size.
While the octagonals are more interesting and unusual, the rounds are a bit pricier, due to a smaller net mintage. Nonetheless, both are destined to maintain their positions as among the world's most desirable and appealing coins. The rippling orange-peel surfaces display subtle rose and lilac shadings of gold on each side. The only marks of any note are a couple at the top of the owl's legs on the reverse. Bright, satiny mint luster rolls around each side of this magnificent piece.(Registry values: P7)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# BYLX, PCGS# 7452, GSID# 10216)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 83.59 grams
AGW: 2.65oz
Mintage: 645

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