Post Your Coins/Medals/Tokens Depicting Imaginary Personifications Or Allegories.

Nice example, commems, and good read as always.

A nice finale for the classic era.

I decided to swing back to this Gallery to have a quick look at a few of the United States ("US") classic-era gold commemorative coins...

First up, the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition Gold Dollar. The gold coin incorporates allegorical elements on each of its sides.

On the obverse, the design's dominant element is a canal worker/laborer who is depicted wearing a small, short-brimmed cap/hat. The depiction is meant to symbolize the concept of "Labor" and all the canal workers who worked tirelessly to make the Panama Canal a reality.

On the reverse are depicted a pair of dolphins, meant to represent the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans - the two bodies of water connected by the Panama Canal.

That is an excellent looking coin!

Next in line is the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition Gold Quarter Eagle ($2.50)...

The second gold coin of the 1915 Exposition is also one that incorporate allegory on each of its sides.

The obverse features Columbia - an allegorical representation of the United States, riding a hippocamous - a fictitious animal that dates to the times of Greek mythology. The combined images are meant to symbolize the newfound ease of moving between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Panama Canal. Columbia is shown holding a caduceus in her left hand, it is meant to represent the medical triumph achieved over yellow fever that enabled the Panama Canal to be be built/completed.

The reverse design depicts a bald eagle, striding to the left, on a pedestal with its wings elevated but not fully extended; the eagle is representative of the United States and its key role in completing the Panama Canal.

Most excellent commems!

One more design from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition ("Pan-Pac") coin program - one design, two varieties...

As with the other two gold coins of the Pan-Pac series, the Gold Quintuple Eagles ($50) incorporate allegorical elements on each side.

On the obverse of each variety is seen a left-facing portrait of Minerva - the Roman goddess of Wisdom. Over time, Minerva began also to be worshiped as the goddess of War. As such, it is common to see her depicted wearing a feather-crested helmet as was done on the Pan-Pac $50 coins. Minerva is generally considered a parallel to Athena of Greek mythology.

On the reverse, an owl is presented perched on a pine tree branch with multiple pine cones. The owl's meaning as a sign of Wisdom and Knowledge dates to Greek mythology. Pine cones have also long had symbolic meaning attached to them, Enlightenment and Fertility are among the most common assigned meanings. On the coin, the "fertility" symbolism is in regards to the prosperity to be found in America and the American West.

Note: These are not my coins - they are still on my "Maybe someday" list.

Panama-Pacific International Exposition Gold Quintuple Eagle - Round Variety


Panama-Pacific International Exposion Gold Quintuple Eagle - Octagonal Variety


(Image Credit: Images of both varieties courtesy of Heritage Auctions).