Lot 1663
1851-D. PCGS graded AU-58. Semi reflective fields. Nice golden toning. Only 9,882 struck. Just as the California miners would discover twenty years after this Mint was established in 1838, gold nuggets and dust do not make for a practical medium of exchange, and their use in transactions often led to heated arguments over value. The solution to this problem was to have the gold coined, so that it came back to its owner in units of recognized value. In an era before railroads, however, this meant slow and uncertain transportation via wagon and canal boat to the United States Mint at Philadelphia. Not only was such a route risky, it was also quite expensive and time consuming. The US government established branch mints in Dahlonega, Georgia ("D" mintmark), Charlotte, North Carolina ("C") and New Orleans, Louisiana ("O") in 1838 to supply minting facilities for the Southern states. By 1851, when this Gold Dollar was made, the local mine supplies were petering out, but vast quantities of California gold were replacing them, to be struck into coins. Pop 27; 22 finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 7515) .
Estimated Value $2,400 - 2,500.
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| Realized $3,408 |
