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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,066 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
  Many people consider this coin to George Morgan's and Charles Barber's masterpiece. The design was imaginative. The hippocampus (a horse and sea serpent combination) stood for the commercial importance of the Panama Canal. The caduceus paid tribute to the medical staff who kept the canal workers healthy during the construction. One of the factors that caused the French to fail in their earlier effort to build a canal was the tropical diseases that felled many of the people who were working on the project.
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Valued Member
United States
484 Posts |
It is a beauty. I am at AU 58. a little rub on high points. I thought a hippocampus was the left side of my brain.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
 AU-58 for me as well!! amazing  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I can't believe you would own such a common coin in a circulated grade, so I'll guess 65.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
I'm going with MS64 on subdued luster. The design is off the charts cool.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
849 Posts |
Wow!  I like it! I'm no good at grading.I just had to say Wow. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2843 Posts |
When I saw the title, I already knew who the poster was going to be.
Bill Jones, you make people aspire.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18663 Posts |
the coin does have the appearance of circulation however, I cant imagine this type of coin in someones pocket. MS64
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Seen these only rarely, then only slabbed, so I can't grade them with a high confidence of accuracy. Moreover, the plastic seems to be obsuring some of the minor scratches and dents. Would have been better to grade it out of the slab, just as the TPG'ers do. I think that I can see only tiny amounts of wear on the high points, both sides, and that would have to make it some sort of AU grade; I will run with AU58. |
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Moderator
 United States
15425 Posts |
Outstanding coin indeed billjones ... I could truly use one of these for my growing 1915 Panama Pacific Expo collection. I'm going MS64/65 ... lovely indeed.  David |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1499 Posts |
PCGS graded this Pan-Pac $2.50 gold as an MS-66.
A number of you commented about "subdued luster." Here is a piece of advice. If you are in the market for one of these coins, and see one that is bright and shiny, RUN. These coins were made with a dull, matte-like finish, and the low mintage was such that the dies were never worn to the point when the surfaces became bright. Any Panama - Pacific quarter eagle that has bright luster has either been processed, or it is a counterfeit.
Normally I don't buy coins in MS-66. The trouble is most of the lower grade coins of this issue did not please me. Therefore I added the extra money to buy a high grade piece. The current PCGS population report shows 435 pieces graded in MS-66 and 40 pieces graded MS-67.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,066 |
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Posted 05/11/2016 6:02 pm
