Lot 1271
1915-S Panama-Pacific Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. Gorgeous original golden colors. A showy gem by anyone's reckoning, with a cocktail of underlying luster, frosty to satiny, that breathes scorching life into the colorful highlights. Given the high standing with which PCGS associates it on the grading scale, it is always nice to see a coin struck with crisp details aplenty.
Coins were struck in conjunction with the large celebration in San Francisco. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair that ran from February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery from the 1906 earthquake. The fair was constructed on a 635 acre site in San Francisco, part of the Presidio now known as the Marina. The Half Dollar sold at the fair was designed by Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan, the Philadelphia Mint's most talented engravers. It depicts Liberty and a child on the obverse. Liberty is holding two sprigs of flowers while behind, the sun sets between the southern and northern outcroppings of the Golden Gate, entrance to San Francisco Bay. A wingspread eagle on the reverse is perched atop the union shield rather than the shield superimposed on its breast as was the custom till then. In all, 27,314 were sold out of an original authorized mintage of 60,000. The unsold pieces were remelted. Pop 72; 2 finer in 68. Housed in a first generation holder (PCGS # 9357) .
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $6,325 |
