United States 1915-S 50 dollars KM-138

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1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific, Round

Authorization

Authorized on January 16, 1915 by PUBLIC—NO. 233—63D CONGRESS. The Panama Pacific International Exposition was the 1915 World's Fair held in San Francisco, California. Taking over three years to construct, the fair had great economic implications for the city that had been almost destroyed by the great earthquake and fire of 1906. The fair ran from February 20th until December 4th, 1915 and was widely considered to be a great success, and did much to boost the morale of the entire Bay Area and to help get San Francisco back up on its feet. Past president of the ANA Farran Zerbe oversaw the Exposition's official Coin and Medal department. Along with this enormous gold slug, promoters persuaded Congress to authorize commemorative half dollars, gold dollars, quarter eagles and octagonal fifty dollar gold slugs. This type was and remains beyond the reach of the ordinary collector.

Design

Robert Ingersoll Aitken

Obverse and reverse designed by Robert I. Aitken, Athena is represented in a Greek helmet, with Roman date MCMXV on the shield. On both sides of the octagonal coin, but not the round, is an extra border of dolphins, friendly companions of boats throughout the continuous route completed by the Canal. On the reverse Athena's owl sits on a branch of pine. The S mintmark is in the field between rightmost cone and inner border. Initials RA below branch are Aitken's.

Mintage

1,500 coins of each the round and octagonal were authorized, coined. Octagonal, (1,500 + 9 assay). Round, (1,500 + 10 assay). First piece of each struck June 29, 1915 at a ceremony. Melted, octagonal, 855, round, 1017. 1915 S Octagonal (Net 645). 1915 S Round (Net 483).

Specification: 1,290 grains = 83.59 grams; round: 1.75" = 43.2 mm diameter; Octagonal, side to side 1 13/16" = 46 mm, diagonally 1 3/4" = 44.5 mm. 0.900 fine gold, reeded edge.

Catalog reference: KM 138.

Sources:

  • Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
  • Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
  • Harper, David C., ed., North American Coins & Prices: A Guide to U. S., Canadian and Mexican Coins, 17th Ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2007.
  • Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.

Link to:

Gallery

  • Panama-Pacific International Exposition grounds in what is now the Marina District. This was swampland until hydraulic pumping filled in the area, and piles driven to support the 1915 Exposition buildings.

  • Fine Arts Palace

  • South Gardens

  • Hand colored.

  • Capping the entrance is a sculptured group by Robert Aitken, representing Liberty Enthroned guarded by Order and Authority. On either side are groups of three figures depicting Council and Research which Aitken modelled after several prominent individuals concerned with the law or the creation of the Supreme Court Building. At the left are Chief Justice Taft as a youth, Secretary of State Elihu Root, and the architect Cass Gilbert. Seated on the right are Chief Justice Hughes, the sculptor Aitken, and Chief Justice Marshall as a young man.

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