US 50 Dollars (Octagon and Round) (Counterfeit) 1915

These are some great-looking coins. Along with the 1915 S half dollar (click here to see it), four gold coins were minted at the San Francisco Mint to commemorate the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915.

These coins all have a base value relative to their gold content. The current base value can be determined by multiplying the AGW (actual gold weight, posted below for each coin) by the current spot price of gold. Current prices can be found on kitco.com. On top of the base value, each coin carries a premium both for their historical nature as well as their appeal to collectors.

The $50 coins are very rare and quite valuable. It is highly unlikely that one would be found that isn't almost uncirculated or fully uncirculated. The design shows Minerva on the obverse and an owl resting atop a pine branch on the reverse. The second coin has an octagonal shape. Each of these two rarities has an AGW of 2.42 ounces.

GENUINE COINS
well preserved: $42000 catalog value
fully uncirculated: $60000

With such high value, these coins are heavily copied. The coin in our main picture (top left) is a fake -- a legal reproduction -- from Ken Potter. The genuine octagon coin at the center of this page comes from CoinUpdate. CoinQuest thanks both sources for use of their coin photos.

FAKE COINS
well preserved: $10
fully uncirculated: $40 or more, depending on quality
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