Pre-1926 Gold Commemoratives

While the vast majority of commemorative coin issues from 1892 through 1954 were silver half dollars, there were a few gold issues in the early years. These were mostly gold dollars and quarter eagles, though two $50 “slugs” were issued for the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915, and are the undisputed keys to a complete set of classic-era commemoratives.

Gold dollars were issued for the Louisiana Purchase Expo (1903), Lewis and Clark Expo (1904-05) and the Panama-Pacific Expo (1915) as well as for the McKinley (1916-17) and Grant (1922) Memorials. Quarter eagles were struck for both the Panama-Pacific Expo as well as the Sesquicentennial of Independence in 1926. And of course, the aforementioned $50 coins, picturing the helmeted head of Minerva on the obverse and the owl of wisdom on the reverse, struck in both round, and octagonal shape. Mintages on the two $50 coins were tiny, (483 for the round and 645 for the octagonal) and their high price on the market today ($60,000 to $250,000+ depending on grade) reflects that.

The last gold commemorative of the classic era was issued in 1926, and another would not be forthcoming for nearly 60 years.

Circulation Strike
Circulation Strike
Circulation Strike
Proof Strike
Proof Strike
Proof Strike

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