Lot 2397
(1834-37) Christopher Bechtler, 5 DOLLARS CAROLINA, 140 gr. 20 carats. Plain edge. . Breen-7750. Period after RUTHERFORD. NGC graded MS-61. Lovely golden toning with nice mirror surfaces. The Bechtler coinage extended over a period of 20 years and was successful in every respect. It received the implied consent of the United States government and at the same time was widely accepted in the channels of commerce in many districts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia (West Virginia had not yet been carved away from the state of Virginia at the time these were current). Based upon the recorded coinage of $2,241,850.50 from the period 1831-1840 plus additional specimens made in the next decade, it is probable that close to a million coins, if not more, were struck bearing the Bechtler imprint.
Their prevalence in circulation at one time was attested to by one of Rutherfordton County's older citizens who during the early 20th century told researcher Clarence Griffin that he was 16 years old before he ever saw any coins other than those minted by Bechtler.
Sleek mellow gold with pale olive and orange highlights. Devoid of marks of consequence and a joy to behold as such. If we had to select a mark to trace provenance, the only candidate would be a short nick in the field below 1(40) of the weight. Struck in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, from gold taken during our nation's first "gold rush;" Rutherford County, North Carolina and the surrounding regions (including nearby Georgia) were the source of most of our nation's gold from about 1790 to 1840 or so. Struck from carefully made dies, both sides are well detailed. Few examples of this scarce $5 denomination have been graded Mint State by NGC. A grand opportunity for those interested in early private gold issues. Pop 6; 1 finer in 62 (PCGS # 10091) .
Estimated Value $18,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $17,250 |
