1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific Gold Octagonal Commemorative PCGS AU Details (cleaned)

We are giving you a rare opportunity to acquire a more affordable example of this important issue. Save thousands when you purchase this piece. Only 645 examples, at most, of this classic commemorative exist today.

The Panama-Pacific fifty dollar gold coins were struck in round and octagonal formats; the latter as presented here were intended to resemble the octagonal-shaped fifty dollar slugs of the California Gold Rush that were issued just about 60 years before. Although Congress authorized production of 1,500 examples of the octagonal coins, only 645 were actually sold due to the high sales price of $100 each. That was an amount that few people could afford, for the average annual salary in America at the time was under $700. 

Poster for the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

To celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, an engineering marvel of the modern world, Congress authorized the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Held in San Francisco, this expo also celebrated the city's recovery from the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. Congress also authorized the production of a series of commemorative coins to honor the Pan-Pac Expo. Included were a half dollar, gold dollar, a $2.50 gold piece, and two $50 gold pieces, one round the other octagonal.

Renowned New York sculptor Robert Aitkin was awarded the commission to craft the design for both versions of the $50 coin. He had never before designed a coin. His designs were a presentation of classical themes on modern numismatic art. The obverse offers a left-facing bust of Minerva, the multifaceted Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, justice, law, victory and a sponsor of the arts and commerce. Her crested helmet is pushed back to represent peaceful intentions, symbolic of the American attitude towards Europe's butchery of the 'War to End All Wars' as World War I was known at the time. The reverse presents an owl perched upon a Ponderosa Pine, surrounded by pine cones. The owl was a sacred animal to Minerva and is commonly recognized as a symbol of wisdom.