The 1915-S Panama Pacific $2.50 Gold Coin, graded PCGS MS64, is a significant and elegant commemorative piece issued to mark the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco. This exposition celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal and the city’s recovery from the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire. The coin was minted at the San Francisco Mint and contains 4.18 grams of 90% pure gold, measuring 18 mm in diameter.
The obverse design by Charles E. Barber features Columbia, the female personification of America, riding a hippocampus (a mythical sea creature), holding a caduceus signaling commerce and triumph over obstacles such as yellow fever during the canal’s construction. The reverse, designed by George T. Morgan, displays a proud American eagle perched on a standard with the motto “E Pluribus Unum.” The “S” mint mark signifies its San Francisco origin.
With a relatively limited mintage of 6,749 coins (after melts), the 1915-S Panama Pacific Gold Coin in MS64 condition represents a solid collector grade that balances affordability and beauty. The MS64 grade shows full mint luster with only minor handling marks, making it an attractive choice for those seeking quality without paying premiums for higher mint states.
This gold quarter eagle remains prized among collectors for its historical importance and classic design, enduring as a symbol of early 20th-century American commemoratives. It combines rich symbolism, scarcity, and excellent preservation in one petite yet potent gold coin.
In summary, the 1915-S Panama Pacific Gold PCGS MS64 is a solid, well-preserved commemorative gold quarter eagle with meaningful historical context and classic aesthetics, ideal for collectors and investors alike.