Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 116

June 1-3, 2020 Pre Long Beach Auction

Territorial Gold Coins

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 759		(1837-42) Christopher Bechtler, ONE DOLLAR CAROLINA, 28 gr., N reversed. K-4, Rarity 4. NGC graded MS-63. The obverse and reverse are mostly untoned with reflective fields. The surfaces show a few busy yet tiny marks, most were likely in the planchet before it was struck. The lettering is all sharp and clear, and the original mint luster is intact. Although this is one of the more plentiful varieties, it is one of the most popular with the blundered "N" of ONE, which is reversed. Curiously on prior dies the "N" had been entered correctly on the die, but in this case a blunder appears. Pop 3; 2 finer in 64. Estimated Value $12,000 - UP View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 760		(1837-42) Christopher Bechtler, ONE DOLLAR CAROLINA, 28 gr., N reversed. K-4, Rarity 4. PCGS graded MS-62. Nice prooflike fields on both sides with rich orange-gold toning over luster. The blundered N is one of the more popular varieties of the Bechtler gold coinage, and what's most noticeable on a high grade coin like this is the fact that the N was engraved in the die correctly, then changed! Ah, the fact of entereing letters in a mirror image has to be quite a challenge, as evidenced here. The strike is sharp and the surfaces are attractive. Scarce this nice and downright rare any finer. Pop 6; 3 finer, 1 in 63, 2 in 64. (PCGS # 10055) Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 761		(1834-37) Christopher Bechtler, ONE DOLLAR N. CAROLINA, 28 gr. high, no star. K-2, Rarity 6. PCGS graded AU-58. Reeded edge. Nicely toned. Reflective fields. Very rare and seldom offered, as this issue survives in quite limited numbers today. The designs did not note the purity, only the weight of 28 Grains, hence these were subject to some interpretation by merchants, owing to their limited information on the coins. This example has handsome deep coppery-gold toning around the periphery and brighter central areas. Pop 2; 2 finer in 61. (PCGS # 10061) Estimated Value $19,000 - 20,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 762		(1837-42) Christopher Bechtler, 5 DOLLARS CAROLINA, 134 gr. 21 carats, with star. K-20, Rarity 4. NGC graded AU-55. Mostly untoned with some areas showing the classic orange gold traces over lustrous fields. The surfaces show only a few light scattered marks, and none are detracting. A handsome example of this popular issue from North Carolina. Some luster evident. Pop 13; 18 finer at NGC. Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000 View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 763		(1837-42) Christopher Bechtler, 5 DOLLARS CAROLINA, 134 gr. 21 carats, with star. K-20, Rarity 4. PCGS graded MS-60. A hint of gold tone on the obverse, the reverse with slightly deeper orange-gold toning over original mint luster. Rather sharply struck for this scarce early Territorial gold coin. The designs are basic and simple, so that anyone with a degree of literacy could weigh this coin and know the gold value in a transaction. Such information was critical at the time, and once tested and confirmed to be genuine made the value easy to ascertain. Pop 1; 2 finer in 61. (PCGS # 10097) Estimated Value $12,000 - UP View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $19,200
Lot 764		(1837-42) Christopher Bechtler, 5 DOLLARS GEORGIA, RUTHERF., 128 gr. 22 carats. NGC graded AU-58. Lightly toned with gorgeous old coppery gold toning and satin smooth surfaces. These early $5 gold pieces were quite popular with the public at the time when there wasn't a lot of Classic head gold yet in circulation and these privately issued gold coins were well known in the Carolinas. Today they remain quite popular with collectors for their simple designs which defined their weight and purity. Pop 4; 5 finer, 2 in 60, 2 i 61, 1 in 62. Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000 View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 765		(1842-52) August Bechtler, 1 DOLLAR CAROLINA, 27 gr. 21 carats. K-24, Rarity 3. PCGS graded MS-63. Plain edge. Struck from lightly rusted dies it appears as there are some tiny raised lumps on the denomination, perhaps from the humid summertime weather of the Carolinas. Untoned with reflective fields, with frosty luster in the protectected areas. These early gold dollars mostly circulated near where they were struck, and were recognized for their stated purity and value. This is one of the finer examples to come down to us today and a handsome example it is. Very choice. Pop 6; 2 finer in 64. (PCGS # 10040) Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 766		1849 Moffat & Co. (San Francisco) $5 Gold. PCGS graded VG-10. Evenly worn and a solid example of this desirable Territorial gold coin. The surfaces retain most of the device detail with partial lettering on Liberty's headband stating MOFFAT & Co. A more affordable example of this desirable issue than commonly seen (PCGS # 10240) Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,640
Lot 767		1851 U.S. Assay Office $50 "slug", 887 THOUS. Lettered edge, 50 on reverse. PCGS graded AU-55. These were struck by the provisional Mint or United States Assay Office. Thus their status is that of a regular issue coin and should be collected as such. Very popular lettered edge variety, and one of the earlier gold coins struck during the California Gold Rush. The obverse depicts an eagle standing on a rock within a beaded circle, his head to the right, his right talon is clutching a shield and arrows. Above the eagle is a small raised ribbon with the fineness of 887 THOUS noted, above that in large letters states UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and at the base is 50 D C (for Dollars/cents if needed for overweight coins). The reverse has a simple engine turned design with a small central circle which holds the number 50, with a ribbon border surrounding. The edge of the coin was hand stamped at the octagonal straight portions with AUGUST HUMBERT UNITED STATES ASSAYER OF GOLD CALIFORNIA 1851. Some luster still evident, with excellent surfaces and outstanding eye appeal for one of these early, large coins. Traces of deeper coppery-gold toning accents the devices, and this is one of the finer examples to survive from this most important era of the California Gold Rush.Pop 6; 10 finer, 3 in 58, 5 in 61, 2 in 62. (PCGS # 10208) Estimated Value $120,000 - UP View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 768		1852 U.S. Assay Office $50 Gold, 887 THOUS. NGC graded MS-60. A nice untoned example that shows a bold strike, rich golden luster and bold visual appeal. A coin always in demand for its official status, and of course because of its immense size and weight. The U.S. Assay Office of Gold put an end to the practice of private gold minters charging 50% or so to buy gold dust and turn that into coins, so the miners were given a much better deal with transaction costs from mine to mint of about 2.75%, far lower than had been experienced by most in that era. Other territorial coins were soon melted and turned into these large $50 pieces. The obverse here shows an eagle with outstretched wings standing on rock and clutching a shield and arrows. The long waving scroll held in its beak reads LIBERTY, above the eagle on a raised ribbon is 887 THOUS the purity of the coin in hand. Surrounding the eagle is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and below is FIFTY DOLLS. In small size lettering around the eight sides and just beyond a beaded border is AUGUSTUS HUMBERT UNITED STATES ASSAYER OF GOLD CALIFORNIA 1851. The entire reverse is the engine turned design. Few coins aside from these immense $50 octagonal gold coins can capture the full historic sensation of the Gold Rush, and holding one in your hand elicits unending history and stories of times long ago. Pop 5; 6 finer, 3 in 61, 3 in 62. Estimated Value $75,000 - UP View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 769		1852 Wass, Molitor & Co. (San Francisco) $10 Gold. Wide Date, Large Head. NGC graded AU-58. Lovely rich golden toning with fairly sharp devices. Quite frosty with lustrous fields. The obverse depicts a close match to the standard Liberty head eagle, instead on her headband it says W. M. & Co., instead of LIBERTY, with the date 1852 below with 13 stars surrounding. The reverse has a closely matching eagle to the regular United States eagle coin, the legends here state S. M. V. CALIFORNIA GOLD / TEN D. below. The S.M.V. stands for Standard Market Value (in other words $10 in gold). This is one of the most popular of the Territorial gold coins. Pop 4; 6 finer, 1 in 60, 3 in 61, 2 in 63. Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000 View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 770		1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. (Denver, Colorado) $10 Gold. PCGS graded AU-58. Nice light gold toning with considerable luster in the fields. Better than average strike for this popular Territorial issue and the surfaces are a delight to examine. So often these early $10s are abraded by circulation or handling, this one barely circulated and was carefully preserved long ago. The popularity of these coins has only increased as the years slide by and finding a really nice example like this requires a lot of patience. Pop 18; 5 finer, 2 in 58+, 3 in 61. (PCGS # 10141) Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold