New Britain herald., 1915-08-12
$50 GOLD Piece FOR
EXPOSITION Coin
First Time That Denomination Has
Been Authorized by U. s.

In the series of common oratiye
ccins authorized by act of congress
for the Panama-Pacific exposition
there is seen FOR the first time a $50
gold piece auth orized by government
of the United States.
The issue of this denomination is
limited to not over 5000 pieces, and
it is provided that one-half of the
issue shall be octagonal in shape.
These are the first octagonal coins to
be produced by our government
The coming of the first $50 gold
piece was an event of considerable
celebration and local interest at the
San Francisco mint. Representatives
of the governm ent, state and exposi-
ton, together with notable represen-
tatives of foreign governments, were
present at the coming.
In addition to the two shapes of
the $50 gold pieces there are in
cluded in this series one half dollar
in silver, one dollar in gold and two
and one-half dollars in gold. On the
gold dollar appears an artists ideal of
Labor this being the first time the
sons of toll have been honored on
the coinage of any nation.
A complete set of these coins is
now on public exhibition at the bank
ing rooms of the Merchants Nation
al bank. All are invited to see this
set of interesting coins.
The following description of the
coins by the designers has been sup
piled to us by the exposition.
Half dollars (silver)-Designs Ky
Charles E. Barber, issue limited to
100000 pieces. Diverse bia
scattering flowers; attendant with
cornucopia, to signify the boundless
resources of the west. Background
Golden Gate, illumined by the rays
of the setting sun. Inscription-"Pa
nama-Pacific Exposition, 1885, Re-
verse-Shield of the United States
surmounted by American Eagle and
supported on the one side by A
branch of oak, emblem of strength
and stability, and on the other side
by the olive branch of peace. In
scription-'Un!ted States of America
Half Dollar-In God We Trust"
One Dollar (gold)-Designs by
Charles Keck, issue limited to $4,000
pieces. Diversified representing
Labor through worse efforts the
Panama canal became reality. In
scription-"United States of America
1915" Reverse-Two dolphins, in
dicating the meeting of two oceans,
surround Zone Dollar-Panama-Pa Pa
cific Exposition-San Francisco"
Quarter Eagle ($2.5O, gold)-Dc-
signs by Charles E. Barber issue linz
tied to 10000 pieces. Obverse-Col-
umbia seated on the mythical sea
horse. Colum bia with the Caduceus,
the emblem of trade of the world to
use the new way from ocean to ocen.
scription-"Panama Expo
sition -1915." Reverse-American
eagle on a standard and bearing the
motto, e, Pluribus Unum-Unitcd
States of America 2 Dol"
Quintuple eagle ESQ, gold)-De-
signs by Robert Aitken, issue limited
to 5000 pieces round and octagona!.
The first $50 gold pieces to be issued
under the authority of the United
States. The motives used in these
coins were selected by the sculptors
because of their simple dignity and
far-reaching significance, as we'll as
for their decorative pattern. observe
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom,
skill, contemplation, spinning, weav-
ing and Of agriculture and horticul-
ture. Observation-Disclosures States of
America F'irty Dollars -MCMXV.'
III field, I'm God We Trust" Reverse
Owl, sacred to Minerva, the accept
ed symbol of wisdom, perched upon
a branch Of western pine. Panama.
Pacific Exposition-San Francisco -
In field, &c Pluribus Unum.'' The
designers initials "R. A. Dolphins, ~
suggesting as they encircle the cen
trail field, the uninterrupted water
route made possible by the Panam;,
canal, occupy the angles of the &C.
tagonal coin.