PAN-PAC COMMEMORATIVE HALF-DOLLAR TRIBUTE – 2 TROY OUNCE – 39MM

    (23 customer reviews)

    $65.06

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    SKU: MTS285483 Categories: , Tags: ,

    Specifications

    Weight

    2.00 troy ounce

    Thickness

    ~6mm

    Purity

    .999 fine

    Finish

    Brilliant Uncirculated

    Edge

    Reeded

    Diameter

    39 mm

    Description

    The Panama Canal, which remains one of the engineering marvels of the modern age, was completed in August of 1914. To celebrate this achievement, Congress authorized the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. This Expo, held in San Francisco, was also a celebration of the city’s recovery from the devastating earthquake of 1906. In addition to the expo, Congress authorized a series of commemorative coins honoring the exposition. These were to include a half dollar, gold dollar, $2.5 gold piece, and 2 different $50 gold pieces. The bill authorizing these issues was signed into law on January 16, 1915.

    The half dollar’s obverse was designed by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber. Whereas most of his designs were usually old fashioned and static, he actually produced a very aesthetically pleasing and artistic obverse. It depicts the figure of Columbia scattering flowers from a cornucopia held by a cherub. Encircling the periphery is the inscription PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION. The San Francisco mintmark (S) is located to the left of the date.

    Barber’s assistant George T. Morgan was selected to design the reverse. Unfortunately, Morgan did little more than modify the eagle reverse he used on the silver dollar first struck in 1878. The bird is perched on top of the Union shield. To its left is an oak branch, symbolizing stability, and to the right is an olive branch, symbolizing peace. The legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR surround the border, while the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the eagle. The olive branch of peace is particularly ironic on a coin struck the year after World War I broke out.

    Distribution of the coins was handled by Farran Zerbe, a past American Numismatic Association President and well-known promoter of numismatics. Before the coins were even struck, tens of thousands of the half dollars were already pre-sold at $1 a piece. While the authorized mintage was 200,000, the San Francisco Mint struck a total of 60,000 pieces over the course of the Exposition. Of those, 32,866 remained unsold and were melted. This leaves a net mintage of 27,134 coins for this now scarce and popular commemorative half dollar.

    • Contains 2 Troy Ounce .999 Fine Silver
    • Obverse: The figure of Columbia is seen scattering flowers from a cornucopia held by a cherub, or naked child. The cornucopia represents the abundant resources of the West, and the rays of the sun, wave motif and north and south sides of the entrance to San Francisco Bay are clearly suggestive of a Golden Gate to the West. Encircling the periphery is the inscription PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION. The San Francisco mintmark (S) is located to the left of the date.
    • Reverse: The Eagle is perched on top of the Union shield. To its left is an oak branch, symbolizing stability, and to the right is an olive branch, symbolizing peace. The legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and 2 TROY OUNCES surround the border, while the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the eagle.

    23 reviews for PAN-PAC COMMEMORATIVE HALF-DOLLAR TRIBUTE – 2 TROY OUNCE – 39MM

    1. Gary B. (verified owner)

      usTexas, United States

    2. James H. (verified owner)

      usUnited States

    3. Christopher Young (verified owner)

      usCalifornia, United States

    4. Matthew Johnson (verified owner)

      deBayern, Germany

      Great looking round!

    5. Vincent Lawrence (verified owner)

    6. Anonymous (verified owner)

      usUnited States

    7. Joe Hurst (verified owner)

      usUtah, United States

      proud to own one…

    8. Santina M. (verified owner)

      usUnited States

    9. David Mikel (verified owner)

      usOhio, United States

    10. Lonnie Wellman (verified owner)

      usOhio, United States

      Beautiful

    11. Vivian (verified owner)

      usUnited States

      High quality and affordable

    12. WILLIAM S. (verified owner)

      usPennsylvania, United States

    13. Anonymous (verified owner)

      usOklahoma, United States

    14. Tom (verified owner)

      usUtah, United States

      BEAUTIFUL

    15. Orest C. (verified owner)

      usMichigan, United States

      Highest Quality!!!

    16. Jeffrey S. (verified owner)

      usWisconsin, United States

    17. Mark K. (verified owner)

      usNorth Carolina, United States

      Very nice looking coin that fits well with my other tribute coins

    18. Anonymous (verified owner)

    19. Kevin G. (verified owner)

      usUnited States

    20. Tom (verified owner)

      usUnited States

      AWESOME

    21. Greg B. (verified owner)

      I have 2 of these

    22. Kevin (verified owner)

      Always the best!!!

    23. Michael Paulsen (verified owner)

      Super

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