Cool original Pan Pac set in Stack's Oct sale

Higashiyama

This is an interesting lot -- a complete Pac Pac set, in original velvet boxes of issue.

Placid

Wow that is really nice

goyankeez

Those are always cool to see.

LanLord

Ka-ching, that's gonna leave a mark on someone's visa.

littlewicher

That's an amazing set right there! They're hard to find with their original case. One pops up on Ebay every once in a while, though.

STEWARTBLAYNUMIS

Higashiyama - Are you sure the coins have been with the same box since the time of issue..........or have the coins been added to the original box ?

Have you seen the coins and what do they grade ?

Stewart

Higashiyama

The catalogue suggests that this is an original set, with the language "the present set is house in its original three boxes of issue" The toning on the 50c and $ 1 appears fairly heavy, somewhat suggesting they have been stored together in the case.

The coins are described as "choice brilliant uncirculated. virtual gems." Based on this description, I would guess they are very attractive coins but might only grade MS63. However, impossible to guess from the photos! (Unfortunately I have not seen the actual coins)

shirohniichan

It's a pity that auction houses have been known to throw away original cases. I've always liked the Pan Pacs, and I hope they find a good home.

newbiecollector

Please help a newbie.........

What exactly is this series and does anyone have a guess at the value?

Trying to learn here

Higashiyama

The five Panama Pacific commemoratives were minted in 1915 at the time of the Panama Pacific Exhibit in San Francisco, commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal the year before. There is a lot of colorful and interesting history about the exhibit even apart from this numismatic aspect.

The five coins were a silver 50c, and gold $1, 2.5, and two $50s. The $ 50 coins came in round and octagonal (with the octagonal commemorating in a very broad sense the octagonal gold "slugs" minted under authority of the US assay office and privately following the gold rush.) Apart from recent bullion coins, these are the only legal tender $ 50 coins minted by the US govt.

Although all the coins are expensive, the value of the set will be driven significantly by the quality of the two $ 50 coins. In MS63, they sell for around $ 30,000 each, in MS64 they get closer to $ 40,000. Probably this set will sell for $ 65,000 - 100,000. The three boxes alone are worth in excess of $ 1000.