1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50. Round. Unc Details--Tooled (PCGS).

Classic Panama-Pacific $50 Round Commemorative 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50. Round. Unc Details--Tooled (PCGS). With Leather Case. If higher grade examples of this type are too rich for one's blood, this offering for a more affordable Mint State Panama-Pacific $50 in round format will certainly appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. It is a vivid olive-orange gold example whose surfaces present quite well given the assigned grade. Some smoothing and light tooling to Athena's cheek at central obverse explain the PCGS qualifier but, again, the eye appeal is rather strong. The rare Panama-Pacific $50 commemoratives are featured in the popular reference 100 Greatest U.S. Coins by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth, where they are ranked #29 in the fifth (2019) edition. The obverse of this type depicts Liberty as Athena with her helmet pitched up upon her head in the fashion of the ancient Greeks, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above, and the denomination FIFTY DOLLARS below. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is located in the upper left field. For the reverse the designer, Robert Aitken, featured a large owl facing nearly forward, perched on a thick pine branch, with large pine cones below and in the background. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is tucked into the field behind the owl. Matching the obverse is a round band at the perimeter which notes the name and place of the Exposition. On the similar octagonal $50 pieces (but not the round), an extra border with dolphins symbolize the continuous waterway created by the opening of the Panama Canal. The round version of the Panama-Pacific Exposition $50s did not sell as well as the octagonal style at the time of issue in 1915, hence a greater percentage of this type was returned to the Mint for melting. Of the 1,500 round examples struck, only 483 were distributed, making it the rarest collectible U.S. Mint commemorative coin. A good number of those sold, perhaps the majority, went into non-numismatic hands and as a result, they are occasionally seen with quite a bit of handling or other surface problems, as here. This lot includes what we believe to be a replacement black leather exterior, purple plush and silk interior case for this coin. It does not match the style seen on original cases, as pictured on page 98 of Anthony J. Swiatek's indispensable reference Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States. There are other differences, but most noticeably, the writing on the inside of the lid is not present. (Total: 1 coin; 1 case) PCGS# 7451. NGC ID: BYLU. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.

Estimate:£0.74

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