1915 California Gold Half Dollar Token - X-Tn8

Coin Details

Auction Record

$570 AU58 05-14-2022 eBay

Description

The 1915 California Gold half dollar, cataloged as X-Tn8, is a variant gold half-dollar souvenir token from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition era, distinguishable from the X-Tn11 half dollar by specific design or die characteristics. The parallel existence of multiple half-dollar varieties (X-Tn8 and X-Tn11) mirrors the situation among the quarter-denomination tokens, where multiple X-Tn numbers identify distinct varieties from the same year and denomination. The half-dollar denomination gold tokens from 1915 San Francisco represent a premium tier of exposition souvenirs. Their larger size allowed for more elaborate designs and their greater gold content gave them both higher intrinsic value and stronger visual impact. The "Tk50C" prefix in the catalog listing explicitly identifies this as a token of fifty-cent denomination, distinguishing it from any potential half-dollar pattern or commemorative classification. The X-Tn8 variety may represent a different concessionaire, manufacturer, or specific design associated with a particular building or exhibit at the exposition. The Panama-Pacific fairgrounds covered 635 acres in San Francisco's Marina District, with numerous buildings and exhibit halls that offered their own souvenir tokens through different vendors. Identifying and collecting the various gold token types from this exposition constitutes a specialized pursuit within territorial and exonumia numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Approximately 25-50 examples of the X-Tn8 variety survive. Collectors of Panama-Pacific Exposition material seek to differentiate between the multiple half-dollar varieties.

Cross References

PCGS #685863; HK X-Tn8 (California Territorial Token)