Now available from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is the Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) Certificate, the third and final intaglio print from the Panama Canal Commemorative series.
This year’s series celebrates the 100th anniversary of the opening celebration for the Panama Canal, a narrow land bridge between North and South America which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
"The PPIE Certificate is a reproduction of the original certificate the BEP produced for several award winning exhibits at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (World’s Fair) in 1915," describes the Bureau of Engraving.
Officially named the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Certificate and released on Thursday, July 9, the print measures 17 inches by 22 inches. The size doubles each of the earlier two issues. It does cost more for the greater detail. At $75, it is more than three times higher than the past two.
As described by the BEP, this latest intaglio print features the following decorative designs:
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Top Left: Portrait of Christopher Columbus. Engraved in 1915 by Louis S. Schofield and Joachim C. Benzing.
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Top Right: Portrait of Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Engraved in 1915 by Louis S. Schofield and Joachim C. Benzing.
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Center Left Vignette: Ornamental Panel (Oranges), for side panel of certificate, Panama Pacific Exposition. Engraved by Harry L. Chorlton and Edward M. Hall, 1915.
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Center Right Vignette: Ornamental Panel (Cotton), for side panel of certificate, Panama Pacific Exposition. Engraved by Charles M. Chalmers and Edward M. Hall, 1915.
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Center Bottom Vignette: Group of Female Figures – Large, for Central Figure Group for Certificate of Panama Pacific Exposition. Engraved by Marcus W. Baldwin, 1915.
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Bottom Vignette: Ships, Cupid. Engraved by Harry L. Chorlton and Marcus W. Baldwin, 1915.
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Bottom: Ornamental Panel with Lettering Panama. Dates in Wreaths, 1904, 1915. Engraved by Frank Lamasure and Harry L. Chorlton, 1915.
Ordering
Collectors can order the 2015 PPIE Certificate directly from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing at www.moneyfactorystore.gov/intaglioprints.aspx.
2015 Intaglio Prints in the series include:
- Panama Canal Commemorative Eagle Intaglio Print, which launched on Jan. 8, 2015.
- Panama Canal Commemorative USS San Diego Intaglio Print, which was released on March 24, 2015.
- 100th Anniversary Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) Certificate Intaglio Print, the current release.
About the BEP
While the Bureau of Engraving and Printing makes and sells detailed intaglio prints and engravings, it is best known for producing U.S. currency. The agency prints billions of Federal Reserve Notes for delivery to the Federal Reserve System each year. These notes are produced at facilities in Washington, DC, and Fort Worth, Texas.
