For the history of the path the bill that authorized the Panama-Pacific International Exposition ("Pan-Pac Expo") coins took in Congress, see:
1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition - Gold Dollar.) This post focuses specifically on the Quintuple Eagle ($50) coin and its two varieties.
The commemorative coin program for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition included five coins: a silver half dollar, a gold dollar, a gold quarter eagle and a pair of gold quintuple eagles ($50 coins) - all were included in the same coin bill. Each of the gold denominations was designed by a different artist; Robert Aitken was selected to create the designs for the gold quintuple eagles.
The coin Act specified a maximum mintage of 3,000 $50 coins, with half of the mintage "similar in shape to the octagonal $50 gold pieces issued in California in eighteen hundred and fifty-one." This provision created the two varieties of the coin: round and octagonal. The coins share a common design with both sides incorporating elements of ancient mythology; on the octagonal variety, small, stylized dolphins were added to each side in the coin's eight corners to fill in the empty space. IMO, without the octagonal specification in the bill/Act, it is unlikely that the Mint would have created such a variety.
On the obverse of each coin is seen a left-facing portrait of
Minerva - the Roman goddess of "wisdom and statecraft" (1) Over time,
Minerva began to also 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. Note also the inclusion of "IN GOD WE TRUST" - at the time, it was not yet a standard element of US commemorative coins.
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, though earlier cultures also assigned symbolism to the owl. For example, the ancient Egyptians considered the owl to be the protector of souls that had passed on to the Underworld. 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. Also included is the motto, "E PLURIBUS UNUM." It shared the honor of being the first US commemorative coin to feature the motto along with its Pan-Pac Expo "brother." the gold Quarter Eagle.
As noted above, the coins were designed by Robert Aitken who also created the designs for the 1921 Missouri Statehood Centennial half dollar and the 1935-36 California-Pacific International Exposition half dollar (aka "San Diego"); the San Diego was another Aitken design that featured mythology via its depiction of
Minerva.The San Francisco Branch Mint struck the coins in June, July and August 1915. 1,509 Octagonal coins were struck (609 in June, 900 in August, 9 for assay purposes) and 1,510 Round coins were struck between July and August (409 in July, 1,101 in August, 10 for assay purposes). Special presses used to strike medals were brought in from the Philadelphia Mint to facilitate the striking of the large $50 gold coins.
The coins sold for $100 each (i.e., double their face value) and came in specially-created leather cases. As with the other Pan-Pac Expo gold coins, the coins did not sell out. Total sales for the Round variety were 483 coins; for the Octagonal variety, sales reached 645 coins. The balance were returned to the Mint and melted.
The two coins are, without question, the keys to the general-release classic US commemorative coin series.
I find the designs on the Pan-Pac Expo Quintuple Eagles to be attractive and medal-like. The over-sized planchets allowed Aitken to craft strong designs that capitalized on the "real estate" available. The designs have multiple elements, but are not over-crowded.
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, http://www.ha.com. Maybe someday I will be able to post images of mine, someday...)For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on the other coins of the Pan-Pac Expo set, see:
Commems Collection.
Works Cited1. Kelsey, Francis. An Outline of Greek and Roman Mythology. Boston : Allyn and Bacon, 1889. p 33.
Posted 08/06/2022 09:13 am
