1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS64 NGC. Octagonal fifty dollar slugs were struck by the U.S. Assay Office o...

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Choice 1915-S Octagonal Panama-Pacific Fifty

1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS64 NGC. Octagonal fifty dollar slugs were struck by the U.S. Assay Office of Gold in the years preceding the San Francisco Mint. However, there is only one octagonal issue from the U.S. Mint. That is the octagonal variety of the Panama-Pacific gold fifty dollar commemorative. A round fifty dollar variety was also struck, and its mintage of 483 pieces makes it even more rare than the octagonal version, which has a tiny production of 645 pieces. The designs for the two issues are similar. Both show Minerva, a.k.a. Athena, adorned with an Athenian helmet and shield. The shield bears the date in Roman numerals, MCMXV. This classical but alert military pose was suitable, considering World War I was raging in Europe and could bring in the United States at any time. The reverse features Athena's owl, symbolic of wisdom. The octagonal variety shows these motifs in slightly reduced scale, relative to the round issue. The octagonal variety adds eight dolphins across both peripheries. Dolphins are symbols of good luck, and often accompanied vessels on their way through the Panama Canal.
The present near-Gem has full satin luster and seamless canary-gold toning. The strike is complete. The unaided eye can locate only a single thin mark, located on the reverse field just left of the owl. Once a glass is used, patient observation finds a wispy pinscratch on the obverse above the G in GOD. These two imperfections are of little relevance, particularly given the large diameter of this hefty gold commemorative. The eye appeal is significant. The fifty dollar gold Panama-Pacific varieties are the two keys of the entire U.S. commemorative series, and the present near-Gem is a worthy representative that would highlight any collection.(Registry values: P7)

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

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 83.59 grams
AGW: 2.41875oz
Mintage: 645

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