A few additional comments to help explain the context of this important and valuable classic series coin ...
The event being commemorated was the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco Golden Gate Park in 1915..... and this coin was struck for sale at that exposition. Most (but not all) classic series commemorative were struck to honor prior historical events .......
Keep the history of the time in mind ..... San Francisco has just been rebuilt from the ashes of the 1906 fire ..... and the Panama Canal .... the greatest engineering achievement of the time .... had opened in 1914 ...... so this 1915 Exposition was considered to be the "ultimate world's fair" and drew an estimated 19 million visitors.
This half dollar is one piece of what I consider to be the greatest Classic series issue of commemorative.
In addition to the half dollar, there was also for sale at the Exposition four gold commemorative coins, a gold dollar, gold $2.50, and two separate designs of a gold $50 coin.
The gold $50 coins from the 1915 Pan-Pacific Expo deserve special mention ...... they are the ultimate rarity in the entire USA commemorative history.
The octagonal gold $50 is the only USA coin ever issued in that form ..... with a net distribution of 645 coins.
The round gold $50 had a net distribution of 483 coins ..... making it by far the rarest coin of the entire 144 coin series.
Today both of the gold $50 are trophy coins ...... commanding prices on the order of $100K for well preserved specimens.
Sure would be great if your grandmother had one of these!
Quote:
Wait.what? No stories of darkness or greed associated with this coin?
I said no greed ...... did not say no darkness.
Your coin and the others from the Exposition were conceived, pushed and eventually distributed by coin dealer and businessman extraordinaire Farran Zerbe. He sold these from his exhibit at the Exposition and went to great lengths to .... uhhhmm ... market his wares.
Mr. Zerbe reputation in the numistimatic community was so bad that when the
ANA held their annual meeting in San Francisco in 1915 fewer that 20 people showed up .... and all-time low never repeated before of after.
Nonethless ..... today we have a great set of 5 coins to enjoy as a result of his efforts.
A quick example of "wish I were there" ..... sales at the Expo were sluggish for Zerbe ...... so he commissioned a local company to build some display cases whereby he could market the coins as a set ..... and his glass-fronted copper framed set of all 5 coins with signed letter from him sold for the then astonishing price of $200. Wish I were there then.
To your coin New Mismatist ..... one of the net distibution of 27,134 half dollars from the Expo. A great historical coin if you follow my story above.
The sun-and-ray motif on the obverse was popular at the time .... and the result of the fact that
Charles Barber designed the obverse and his then-assistant George Morgan partnered in the design of the reverse. Both had a full hand in many coins using that motif.
I must say this this photo is not up to the normal excellent shots you have posted so far ...... too dark ... especially on the left side.
Nonetheless ..... this is a lovely Pan-Pacific half.
The first place to check on this coin is the feathers of the eagle on the reverse ...... for both wear and strike quality.
This coin looks swell to me ...... despite a few nicks and bag marks I see nothing to keep this coin from a scary high
TPG grade ..... MS65 is not out of the question IMHO assuming original surfaces.
Numismedia FMV in MS64 is $1380 .... in MS65 it is $2190.
Mind my initial caution ..... do not do anything to 'improve' these coins or alter the surfaces!
Let us know how the
TPG grading turns out for you.
Sorry for the long reply ..... perhaps I should take a break from this?
David
Posted 06/30/2010 01:03 am
