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1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Round MS64 NGC. CAC....
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Sold on Jul 17, 2025 for:
$138,000.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
Description
1915-S Panama-Pacific Fifty Dollar, MS64
Elusive Round Variant, CAC Endorsed
Only 483 Pieces Distributed
1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Round MS64 NGC. CAC. The
1915-S Round Panama-Pacific fifty dollar gold coin was issued in
conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held
in San Francisco. The exposition marked two events of national and
regional importance: The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 and
the recovery of San Francisco from the devastating 1906 earthquake
and fire. Numismatist Farran Zerbe organized an extensive
commemorative coin program around the fair, securing authorization
for five different coins: a silver half dollar, gold dollar,
quarter eagle, and two massive fifty dollar gold pieces -- one
round and one octagonal.The round and octagonal fifty dollar pieces share the same design created by sculptor Robert Ingersoll Aitken. Aitken was trained at the Art Students League of New York, where he was a prolific architectural and monumental sculptor. Aitken contributed several important designs to American coinage and public art. His work on the Panama-Pacific fifty dollar coin stands as one of the most ambitious in U.S. commemorative coinage, both in size and in symbolism.
Aitken chose to depict the Roman goddess Minerva (the Greek equivalent being Athena) -- a figure of wisdom, strategy, and civic virtue, wearing a crested helmet. She also appears on the California State Seal, strengthening her connection to the Exposition's host state. Her presence on the obverse emphasizes the ideals of reason and progress associated with both the Panama Canal's construction and San Francisco's reconstruction. The reverse design shows an owl perched on a pine branch, reinforcing Minerva's symbolic role as a guardian of wisdom. While the octagonal version displays eight dolphins -- symbolizing the Panama Canal's link between the oceans -- arranged in the angles around the main design, the round piece omits the dolphin embellishments but retains the rest of the artwork.
Each piece was struck at the San Francisco Mint and carries the S mintmark. Distribution options initially included single coins or full sets housed in black leatherette cases with velvet lining. As sales lagged, local jewelers like Shreve & Co. produced copper and glass frames for both individual and double sets in an attempt to expand the buyer base. Despite the historical significance and artistic ambition behind the series, public response was limited. The fifty dollar issues were sold at a then-steep price of $100 per coin. As a result, only 483 of the authorized 1,500 round examples were sold. This made the round variant the lowest-distribution issue in the classic commemorative series.
This present example is a visually impressive Choice Mint State round specimen with vibrant orange-gold surfaces and vibrant, satin-smooth luster. The strike is consistently sharp across the major design elements, and no significant abrasions detract from this near-Gem coin's appearance. CAC approval affirms the superior surface quality and eye appeal for the grade. As one of the largest and most challenging issues in the classic commemorative series, the 1915-S Round fifty dollar retains its important position within early U.S. commemorative coinage. NGC census figures list just 82 examples numerically finer as of April 2025.(Registry values: N10218)
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# BYLU, PCGS# 7451, Greysheet# 10215)
Weight: 83.59 grams
Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Auction Info
2025 July 17 - 20 Summer FUN US Coins Signature® Auction #1384 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2025
17th-20th
Thursday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 19
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,340
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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