United States 1915-S gold dollar
Authorization
Authorized on January 16, 1915 by PUBLIC—NO. 233—63D CONGRESS. The Panama Pacific International Exposition was the 1915 worlds 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 exposition was a tremendous success, and did much to boost the morale of the entire Bay Area and to help get San Francisco back up on its feet. The fair ran from February 20th until December 4th, 1915 and was widely considered to be a great success.Past president of the ANA Farran Zerbe oversaw the Exposition's official Coin and Medal department.
Design
Obverse and reverse by Charles Keck. The man wearing a cap, is often mistaken for a baseball player. It is meant to represent one of the laborers who helped top build the Panama Canal. The reverse shows two dolphins, symbolizing the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Recorded Mintage: 25,000 coins were authorized and coined, + 34 for assay. 10,000 were melted after November 1, 1919, leaving a net of 15,000. Normal S mintmark.
Specification: 25.8 grains = 1.672 grams, 14.3 mm (9/16th inch) diameter, 0.900 fine gold, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 136.
- 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:
- 1915 cent
- 1915 5 dollars
- 1915-S 2½, Panama-Pacific Exposition
- 1915-S half dollar, Panama-Pacific Exposition
- 1915 2½ dollars
- 1915 10 dollars
- 1915-S 50 dollars, Panama-Pacific Exposition, round
- 1915-S 50 dollars, Panama-Pacific Exposition, octagonal
- 1916 gold dollar, McKinley Memorial
- Coins and currency dated 1915
- return to United States Commemorative Coins, 1892-1954
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.
