PRIVATE GOLD COINAGE.
CALIFORNIA COINS.
Previous to the establishment of the Branch Mint, at San Francisco, in 1854, many private refineries and companies struck gold coins of various denomination.
In 1850, by Act of Congress, the United States Assay Office was established in San Francisco, and the following coins were issued from that office :
THE CALIFORNIA SLUGS.
This coin, of which there are two varieties, is of an octagon shape. The first variety has an eagle, with raised wings, grasping the United States shield, three arrows in the right, and an olive branch in the left talon ; from its beak floats a scroll, inscribed with the word "LIBERTY;" above the eagle is another scroll, with "887 THOUS." inscribed upon it. Legend : "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Exergue: " 50 D. c." (Fifty Dollars of California). These are inclosed in a beaded circle, and, though in relief, are sunk into the piece in such a manner as to leave a raised rim around the ontside. Upon the edge is inscribed : "AUGUSTUS HUMBERT, UNITED STATES ASSAYER, CALIFORNIA GOLD, 1851."
The second variety is similar in type, but is much more finished. Upon the scroll, above the eagle, is inscribed : " 880 THOUS.;" around, the Legend : "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Exergue : " 50 D. c." The raised riin does not appear upon this piece; but outside of the circular line, inclosed in the field, is inscribed : "AUGUSTUS HUMBERT, UNITED STATER ASSAYER OF GOLD, CALIFORNIA, 1851." The edge is grained. Upon the Reverse, in the middle of the field "50," surrounded by rays of peculiar lining. Weight: 1319.312 grains. Fineness: 880 and 887. Value : $49.85 and $50.00.
Considerable controversy has existed for years regarding the afore-described "California Slugs." Some writers on coins maintain that they were of the authorized United States coinage, while others dispute the same. To settle this vexed question, we appealed to Director Linderman, of the United States Mint.
His letter, which we print in full, settles the matter conclusively:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINT.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May, 1878.
SIR - : I have, received your letter of the 30th ultimo, requesting to be informed if the $50 California Slug is an authorized United States coin. The piece referred to is not an authorized United States coin, but simply a slug or bar with the United States stamp, indicating the degree of fineness and value, affixed by the United States A*sayer, appointed by authority of law, to perform such duties in assaying and fixing the value of gold in grain and lump, and in forming the same into bars, as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury." Very respectfully,
H. B. LINDERMAN,
Director.
JOHN S. DTE, Esq.,
1338 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia.
2. Twenty-five Dollars of California. Issued by Terapleton Reid, whose name appears upon the Obverse; of variable standard, and ranging in value from $23.50 to $25.00.
3. Twenty Dollars, issued by Humbert. Obverse : Same as the Fifty Dollar piece, with the exception that upon the scroll "900" appears. The Reverse is similarly lined; but across the centre is an open space on which is inscribed "UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICE OF GOLD, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 1853." The edge is grained. Weight: 517.624 grains. Fineness: 900. Value: $20.
4. California Half-Dollar. 5. California Quarter-Dollar.
Value : 40 cents. Value : 20 cents.
For several years gold Half and Quarter-Dollars were issued; the Half-Dollar of the. first issue was of a round shape, and had upon the Obverse a head of Liberty, surrounded by a circle of thirteen stars. Some have upon the Reverse "1852," within a wreath of laurel. Legend: "HALF DOL. CALIFORNIA GOLD." Others have the date "1853," and the Legend : "CALIFORNIA GOLD. HALF D." The Half and Quarter-Dollars were issued by private parties. Obverse : Head of Liberty, encircled by stars. Reverse: "$ DOLLAR," and the date of the year of issue, within a circle of pellets. The Quarter-Dollar has the same devices and Legends, with the exception of " 1/4 DOLLAR " instead of 1/2 Dollar.
6. Twenty Dollars, or Double Eagle of the Pacific Co. The Legend : "s. M. v. CALIFORNIA GOLD," stands for Standard Mint Value; nevertheless, the weight and fineness of this coin varies so much, that $19.22 1/2 has proved to be the average value of 25 coins assayed at the Assay office of the United States, in San Francisco.
7. Ten Dollar piece of the Pacific Co.
The Obverse of this piece bears an eagle flying, across the field, grasping an olive branch in the right, and a hammer in the left talon. Legend: "PACIFIC COMPANY, CALIFORNIA." Exergue: "1849." Reverse: A liberty cap, surrounded by diverging rays and stars. Exergue: "10 DOLLARS." Weight: 229 grains. Fineness: 797. Value : $7.86.
8. Five Dollars of the Pacific Co.
The Obverse and Reverse are similar to No. 7. Weight :130 grains. Fineness : 797. Value: $4.48.
9. Ten Dollar gold pieces of Baldwin & Co. Obverse : Indian on horseback, throwing a lasso. Legend :
" CALIFORNIA GOLD." Exergue :" TEN DOLLARS." Reverse: An eagle, in imitation of the National coinage. Legend : "BALDWIN & co." Exergue: "SAN FRANCISCO." Weight: 263 grains. Fineness: 880. Value: $9.96.
10. Five Dollar gold piece of Baldwin & Co. Obverse: Head of Liberty, same as on the National gold coinage, with the exception that instead of the word " LIBERTY," " BALDWIN & CO.," appears upon the tiara. Reverse : " S. M. v. (Standard Mint Value) CALIFORNIA GOLD." Weight: 128 and 130 grains. Fineness: 880. Value: at from $4.90 to $4.92|.
All the coins of Baldwin & Co. contain copper as alloy, while
most of the California coins are usually alloyed with native
silver.
11. Ten Dollar gold piece of Augustus Humbert.
Weight : 260 grains. Fineness : 884. Value : $9.95.
12. Ten Dollar gold piece of Moffat & Co. This company coined money for a number of years; their first coins bear the date of 1849, and some are stamped with 1854. Obverse and Reverse similar to the devices of the National Double Eagle, with exception only that "MOFFAT & co." takes the place of the word "LIBERTY" upon the tiara. Weight, Fineness, and Value : Same as the United States coinage.
13. Ten Dollar gold piece of Moffat & Co.
Weight: 258.250 grains. Fineness: 897. Value: $9.97-.700.
14. Five Dollar gold piece of Moffat & Co.
Obverse and Reverse of same type as No. 13, and value in proportion. Messrs. Moffat & Co. also issued gold ingots for circulation in California, bearing the stamp of Moffat & Co. upon one side, and the fineness in carats and value stamped upon the Reverse.
These ingots of 21 7/8 carats were of the intrinsic value of $16.00, and those of 20 3/4 carats, $9.43.
15. Ten Dollar gold piece of the Oregon Exchange Co.
Obverse : A beaver in the middle of the field, beneath which is inscribed "o. T." (Oregon Territory), and the date, "1849," as Exergue. Legend : "K. M. T. p. c. s." (the initials of the persons composing said company).
Reverse : "10 D. 20 G." (10 dineros, 20 granos, equal to 878 fine). "NATIVE GOLD 10 D." (10 dollars). Legend: "OREGON EXCHANGE CO." Weight: 255 grains. Fineness: 878. Value: $9.70.
16. The Five Dollar gold piece of the Oregon Exchange Co. is similar in device and Legend to No. 15.
Weight: 130 grains. Fineness: 878. Value: $4.841/2.
17. Ten Dollar piece of Templeton Reid.
Value: $9.85.
18. Ten Dollar gold piece of Dr. J. S. Orrasby, of Pennsylvania,
coined during his sojourn on the Pacific coast. J.S.O a Obverse : " 10 DOLLARS," in the middle of the field, surrounded by a circle of thirty-one stars. Reverse: "J. s. o," in the middle of the field, initials of Dr. J. S. Ornisby. Legend : 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Exergue: "CAL." Weight: 258.500 grains. Fineness: 842. Value: $9.37.
19. Ten Dollar gold piece of Dubosque & Co.
Obverse and Reverse similar to the National coinage of that denomination. Value: $9.85.
20. Ten Dollar gold piece of the Cincinnati Mining andTrading Co.
Obverse: An Indian bust, head crowned with feathers. Legend: "CINCINNATI MINING AND TRADING COMPANY." Reverse: An eagle in flight, grasping United States shield in his right, and three arrows and olive branch in the left talon. Legend: "CALIFORNIA TEX DOLLARS." Exergue: "1849."
Weight : 258 grains. Value : $9.70.
21. Five Dollar gold piece of the Cincinnati Mining and Trading Co.
Obverse and Reverse: Similar 10 No. 20. Weight: 132 grains. Value: $4.95.
22. Ten Dollars of the Miners' Bank of San Francisco.
Obverse: "TEN D." in the middle of the field. Legend: "MINERS BANK." Exergue: "SAN FRANCISCO." Reverse: An eagle, similar to the National coinage. Legend: "CALIFORNIA," beneath are thirteen stars, arranged around the edge.
Weight : 263.500 grains. Fineness : 865. Value : $9.87.
23. Five Dollar gold piece of N. G. & N.
Weight and Fineness variable. Value varying from $4.83 to $4.951/2, without the alloy of silver; and, including that, 21/2 cents more.
24. Five Dollar gold piece of the Massacnusetts and California Company.
Obverse : " FIVE D." in the middle of field, surrounded by a wreath of laurel. Legend: "MASSACHUSETTS AND CALIFORNIA CO." Exergue: "1849." Reverse: The crest and arms of Upper California : around the edge are arranged thirteen stars.
Weight: 115.500 grains. Value: $4.76.
25. Five Dollar gold piece of Dunbar & Co,
Value: $4.75.
NORTH CAROLINA COINS.
In 1830, Mr. C. Bechtler established, with consent of the United States Government, a Mint at Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and commenced the coinage of Five and Two and a Half Gold Dollar pieces. In 1834, he also coined some One Dollar pieces. Of Mr. C. Bechtler's gold coins there are two series, those previous to 1834, and after that year, and up to 1842. In 1842, Mr. C. Bechtler sold his interest to Mr. A. Bechtler, and his name appears upon the North Carolina gold coins from 1842 to 1849. The Five Dollar gold piece of Bechtler, from 1830 to 1834, weighs 150 grains, and of 833 fineness, and its value, at the present standard, $5.34. In 1834, there was an important reduction of standards in the National gold coins, to which Mr. Bechtler conformed, and, by way of distinction, afterward used the uniform date of that year.
C. Bechtler also adopted three grades of fineness and weight; thus the Five Dollar gold piece, of which we give an illustration, was coined at the following standards :
Those of 20 carats, 833 fine, weight, 140 grains, value, $4.90; those of 21 carats, 875 fine, weight, 134 grains, value, $4.89; those of 22 carats, 917 fine, weight, 128 grains, value, $4.84.
The 20 carat gold pieces are stamped "NOBTH CAROLINA " gold; the 21 carat pieces "CAROLINA" gold; and the 22 carat pieces "GEORGIA" gold. Notwithstanding that the stamp of Georgia gold appears on the coins, it is a well-known fact that all the gold was mined in North Carolina, and that these stamps are only to assist in indicating the different qualities, as they are generally understood in that region, Georgia gold being always the best, and North Carolina the poorest.
The Two and a Half Gold Dollar pieces were coined of 20 and 22 carats fine, and stamped "N. c." gold and "GEORGIA" gold.
Those of 20 carats, 833 fine, weight, 70 grains, value $2.47; those of 22 carats, 917 fine, weight, 64 grains, value $2.39. The
One Dollar gold pieces are all of 21 carats fine, and of 28 grains in weight, and their intrinsic value only 94 cents.
BECHTLER TWO DOLLAR AND A HALF PIECE.
After 1842, and up to 1849, Mr. A. Bechtler's coins were of considerable variance in weight, fineness, and value.
BECHTLER DOLLAR.
Since 1849 that Mint has been abolished, and that coinage has become very scarce.
GEORGIA COINS.
In 1830, when the first extensive produce of Georgia gold was mined, Mr. Templeton Reid established a Mint, and coined, by permission of the United States Government, Ten, Five, and Two and a Half Gold Dollar pieces. His coins bear on the Obverse : " TEMPLETON REID, ASSAYER,*' and their denominations.Upon the Reverse, the inscription "GEORGIA GOLD," surrounded by a circle of stars.
The Ten Dollar gold pieces of 1830, 1831, 1832, and 1833 weigh 248 grains, and are 942 fine, their value $10.06. The Five Dollar gold pieces of that period, 124 grains, and 930 fine, value $5.00. The Two and a Half-Dollar pieces are 932 fine, and weigh 60.500 grains, value $2.43.
In 1834, Templeton Reid reduced his standard weight and fineness, and being of irregular value, their issue was soon discontinued.
In 1849, when the gold discoveries of California startled the whole world, Mr. Templeton Reid removed his machinery and tools to San Francisco, California, and commenced soon after to coin Twenty-five and Ten Dollar gold pieces.
MORMON COINS OF UTAH.
The Mormons, at Great Salt Lake City, have issued gold coins of twenty, ten, five and two and a half dollars. Their weight varies materially, and their fineness 899 and sometimes 900 fine.
TWENTY DOLLARS OF UTAH.
Obverse: An eye surmounted by a Mormon Mitre. Legend: "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." Reverse: Two hands clasped; beneath, the date of the year of issue. Legend: "o S. L. c. P. G." (Great Salt Lake City Pure Gold). Exergue: "TWENTY" DOLLARS." Value: Twenty dollars in Utah; but the intrinsic value upon assay varies from sixteen dollars to eighteen dollars.
TEN DOLLARS OF UTAH.
Obverse and Reverse same as the twenty dollar pieces, only upon the Exergue of Reverse, "TEN DOLLARS." Value in Utah, ten dollars ; but the intrinsic value upon assay varies from $8.50 to $9.00.
FIVE DOLLARS AND TWO AND A HALF DOLLARS OF UTAH.
Obverse and Reverse same as the twenty and ten dollar pieces, only upon the Exergue on the Reverse "FIVE DO" and " TWO AND HALF DO," respectively. Their value varies from $4.25 to $4.50, and also from $2.10 to $2.25. The coins of Utah, prior to 1860, proved upon assay to vary materially in fineness; being coined from native gold, they contain silver, about as the average of the unassayed gold, out of
which they were made.
The results of assay at the United States Mint prove that they are irregular, both in weight and fineness ; but on a general average they were found to be 886 fine.
The Utah coins, up to this day, bear the Legend "PURE GOLD;" they took for granted that it had no alloy, being coined from " native gold," which has silver alloy, about the average of California gold, out of which the coins were made; and, of course, without correct assay.
The coins, prior to 1860, are now very rare, and much sought for by collectors, at advanced prices.
In 1858 President Brighnra Young had a new die prepared for coining the five dollar gold pieces. A pattern piece was struck for him, and we are indebted to the Hon. Brighara Young, Jr., and Joseph L. Barfoot, Esq., Curator of the Salt Lake City Museum, for a wax impression of the same, which we illustrate herewith.
This pattern piece was worn by the Prophet Brigham Young, as a charm attached to his watch chain, up to the time of his death. At the death of the Prophet and Governor, the watch, chain and charm were sold by the executors of his will, and realized three hundred dollars.
The coins issued for circulation are similar in size and device. FIVE DOLLARS OP UTAH OP 1860 AND 1862. Upon the Obverse, an eagle, with outspread wings, a beehive upon its breast. Legend: "ASSAY OFFICE, o. 8. L. c." (Great Salt Lake City}. Exergue : " 5 D. PURE GOLD."
Reverse : A lion couchant occupying the field. Legend : Same as upon the Obverse, only in the "Deseret" characters, an alphabet on phonographic principles.
TEMPLETON REID'S GEORGIA COINAGE.
In the year 1830, when gold began to be extensively rained in the States of Georgia and North Carolina, the project was set on foot of coining it "at the pit's mouth." The authorized establishments for this purpose have been, that of Templeton Reid, in Georgia; and that of Christopher Bechtler in North Carolina.
Three denominations of coin were issued : Ten, Five and Two and a Half Dollar gold pieces; bearing the name of "Templeton Reid, Assayer," and the designation : " Georgia Gold." The Ten Dollar gold pieces weighed 248 grains, and were of 942 fineness. The Five Dollar gold pieces weighed 123.5 grains, and were of 938 fineness. The Two and a Half Dollar pieces weighed 60.5 grains, and were of 932 fineness. Afterwards, when the California gold fields began to attract attention, Templeton Reid removed his establishment to that region, and in 1849 commenced the coinage of Twenty-five and Ten Dollar gold pieces.
TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS OP TEMPLETON REID.
They are similar to the Georgia coinage.
MR. C. BECHTLER'S COINAGE.
reduction of standard in the United States gold coin, to which Mr. Bechtler conformed.
The denominations were as before, but there were three grades of fineness and weight; thus at 20 carats, the Five Dollar piece weighed 140 grains ; the same at 21 carats, weighed 134 grains, and at 22 carats, weighed 128 grains. The pieces of 20 carats were stamped: "NORTH CAROLINA GOLD ;" those of 21 carats : " CAROLINA GOLD," and those of 22 carats: "GEORGIA GOLD." Christopher Bechtler's coinage after 1834, according to official United States assays, varied as follows: $5 North Carolina gold, 140 to 139.8 grains; 833 to 815 fineness.
$5 Carolina gold, 134 to 134.4 grains; 875 to 845 fineness.
$5 Georgia gold,- 128 to 127 grains; 917 to 882 fineness
$2.50 North Carolina gold, 70 grains; 833 to 819 fineness.
$2.50 Georgia gold, 64 to 63.6 grains; 917 to 872 fineness.
$1.00 North Carolina gold, 28 to 27.6 grains; 833 to 810 fineness.
Georgia gold was always understood to be the best, and the
North Carolina gold the poorest.
CALIFORNIA PRIVATE COINAGE.
In 1849, and after California was admitted- into the Union,
CALIFORNIA QUINTUPLE EAGLES OF FIFTY DOLLARS.
gold coins were issued by that State of the denominations of Fifty, Twenty-five, Twenty, Ten, Five, Two and a Half and One Dollar pieces ; also Fifty and Twenty-five Cent pieces in
gold.
The Fifty Dollar piece and the Fifty and Twenty-five Cent pieces are octagon shajwd ; all the others are round coins.
CALIFORNIA EAGLES OF TEN DOLLARS.