Bonds with the following characteristics are retired on January 1, 2005, at 104: Issue date: January 1, 2004; maturity date: January 1, 2009; face value: $300,000; bond issue costs: $5,000, amortized semiannually using the straight-line method of amortization. The unamortized bond discount is $8,500 as of January 1, 2005. What is the amount of the gain or loss on the bond retirement?
a) Gain of $8,500
b) Loss of $12,500
c) Gain of $12,500
d) Loss of $24,500