The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition commemorative coins were made to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. The sale of the commemorative coins helped fund the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The Panama Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco so all of the commemorative coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint.

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The Half Dollar

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���The�Obverse was designed by Charles E Barber, it depicts Columbia. Before there was Lady Liberty, Columbia represented Liberty/United States. Columbia is facing left with extended arms scattering flowers. Behind Columbia stands a naked child holding a cornucopia (a symbol of plenty). The Golden Gate and the setting sun are in the background.

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�The�Reverse was designed by George T Morgan, it depicts a bald eagle with raised wings perched on the national shield.�

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The maximum Number Authorized was 200,000 pieces even though only 60,000 were minted 27,134 were distributed and 32,866 were melted, there were up to thirty assay coins, the coins sold for $1.00 each or 6 for $5. It was the first commemorative to include the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST”.

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The Gold Dollar

The obverse and reverse of the gold dollar were designed by Charles Keck the obverse depicts the bust of a canal worker.

�The reverse depicts two dolphins encircling one dollar it symbolizes the meeting of two oceans. there was a mintage of 25,000, 15,000 coins were distributed and 10,000 were melted, there were 34 assay coins.

The Quarter Eagle

The obverse of the quarter eagle was designed by Charles E Barber, it depicts Columbia riding a mythical sea horse in the Panama Canal she is holding a caduceus a symbol of trade.

The reverse was designed by George T Morgan, it depicts an eagle.

��There was a mintage of 10,000 coins 6,749 were distributed and 3,251 were melted there were 17 assay coins.

The Half Union Coins

The coins were designed by Robert Aitken.

The obverse of the Half Union commemorative coins depicts Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, skill, contemplation, spinning, weaving, and agriculture.

The reverse depicts an owl that was sacred to Minerva it is the symbol of wisdom it is perched upon a branch of the western pine tree.

There are two varieties variety one is round it had a mintage of 1,500, 483 were distributed 1,017 were returned to the mint to be melted. there were 10 assay coins.

Variety two is octagonal 1,500 were minted 645 were distributed 855 were returned to the mint to be melted there were 9 assay coins. On variety two the design is smaller and there are dolphins around the rim of the coin. The Octagonal Half Union is the only octagonal United States coin.