1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Round MS63 PCGS....

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1915-S Pan-Pac Round, MS63
Only 483 Pieces Distributed

1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Round MS63 PCGS. The initial proposal for a Panama Canal exposition was proposed in 1904, then was put before Congress in 1906, and in 1911 was given the starting date of 1915. The date was somewhat tragically marred by The Great War going on in Europe, but a plethora of people would still make their way to the exposition. It was the opulence of the event that would attract those from every corner of the country, in large part created by the phenomenally assembled coalition of architects, artists, and sculptors.
     Robert Ingersoll Aitken was one such phenomenal sculptor throughout his life and played a pivotal role in the execution of the Panama-Pacific Exposition's aesthetic. Alongside his numismatic work, he'd designed the Fountain of Earth for the Court of Abundance, in which several Greco-Roman-inspired figures flank a globe, with the gods and humanity present in a gorgeous simulacrum that represents the Human condition. The throughline of his style, both in his sculpting and medallic works, mirrors his Renaissance inspirations. Aitken's work closely resembles that of Michelangelo and Auguste Rodin, the focus emphasizing the beauty of forms in the intricacy of their work and the attempt to capture the divinity of the divine anecdotes of their inspiration.
     His fifty dollar gold pieces display the graciousness and appreciation of this inspiration as he submitted his designs to the Treasury Secretary, William McAdoo. McAdoo and the ever-present Charles Barber would challenge Aitken on several factors in his initial design. The original piece was criticized in part due to its size, the dolphins within the periphery of its octagonal design, the placement of the motto within the shield, the usage of Minerva herself, and a spider web lattice pattern positioned behind the owl. Aitken took a myriad of this criticism in stride in revising the motto, removing the lattice, and repositioning the dolphins. He would not stand for the criticism of Minerva, though, citing her importance to California being a prominent feature within the state's seal, and would be so taken aback that he'd challenge McAdoo to provide something greater. The challenge was unfortunately not taken up, so that we could not get a concept of McAdoo's gold piece, and following a meeting Aitkens would make the minor modifications that he found agreeable.
     The current example displays tawny-gold luster that coalesces alongside faint notes of silver tones emerging on the devices. There are some minor abrasions, but they are not overly garish to the appeal of this alluring piece. The issue becomes expediently scarcer at Gem Uncirculated and the current example represents a more collectible offering of this historically significant commemorative. Among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins (6th edition).(Registry values: N7079)
From The Cole Carter Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# BYLU, PCGS# 7451, Greysheet# 10215)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 83.59 grams
AGW: 2.65oz
Mintage: 483

View Certification Details from PCGS