ORIGINAL PANAMA PACIFIC GOLD AND SILVER FIVE PIECE COMMEMORATIVE SET WITH BOX, 1915

HALF DOLLAR, 1915-S, NGC MS 65

A deeply toned example of blue-grey and gold. The head of Liberty a little soft, some minor marks, few of which are visible without magnification. A lovely example. Certificate number: 501967-001 (NGC 4 holder). (02-18)

GOLD DOLLAR, 1915-S, NGC MS 65 CAC

A beautifully struck example, with great eye-appeal, a small mark on the worker’s cap and another on one of the dolphins is visible under magnification. Certificate number: 501967-002 (NGC 4 holder). (02-18)

QUARTER EAGLE, 1915-S, NGC MS 65 CAC

A lovely rich and original example, with the engraver’s die polish swirls evident. The few light surface marks do not distract. Certificate number: 501967-003 (NGC 4 holder). (02-18)

FIFTY DOLLARS, ROUND, 1915-S, NGC MS 64 CAC

A splendid example. Fully struck, with evidence of the engraver’s die lines still fresh. To the naked eye, almost without a flaw, but under magnification there are a couple of minuscule marks on Minerva’s helmet near the wreath, and on the reverse a minor line or two on the eagle’s chest. With eye appeal that exceeds its numerical grade. Certificate number: 501967-004 (NGC 4 holder). (02-18)

FIFTY DOLLARS, OCTAGONAL, 1915-S, NGC MS 64 CAC

A perfect mate to the round fifty. An excellent strike with die polish lines in full evidence. There is a similar minuscule abrasion on Minerva’s helmet near the wreath, and on the reverse a few scuffs in the field to either side of the owl. An attractive, fully original example. Certificate number: 501967-005 (NGC 4 holder). (02-18)

Together with the original tooled leather case and the original explanatory card. A few minor losses, but a far above average box. The set as a whole is extremely well balanced, fully original, and with lovely toning.

These remarkable coins were struck to be sold at the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, held in San Francisco not only mark the opening of the Panama Canal two years prior, but to celebrate the fact that San Francisco was born anew, a decade after the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. The coins were not ready for sale until the Exposition was well under way, and their sales were a disappointment, with the majority of the coins left unsold and melted. The fifty dollar gold pieces were the largest coin ever authorized by the government and recalled the fifty dollar slugs produced during the gold rush period. Complete sets, such as this, were available for two hundred dollars, a substantial sum considering the American worker’s average annual income was under seven hundred dollars.

(6 pieces)