2002 September Long Beach Signature Sale Sale #300 - Session 5

1852 $10 Assay Office Ten Dollar--Tooled, Cleaned--ANACS. Unc Details, Net XF45. K-10, R.6. Strong Beads Reverse. This coin offers sharply impressed d

1853 $10 Assay Office Ten Dollar, 900 Thous. AU50 PCGS. Ex: Central America. K-16, Low R.6. Struck between March and April of 1853, the Ten and Twenty

1853 $20 Assay Office Twenty Dollar, 900 Thous. MS61 NGC. K-18, R.2. A remarkable 2.5 million pieces were produced of this variety in a short seven-mo

Baldwin & Company were initially jewelers and watchmakers. They were one of the few firms, which met (and exploited) the demand for a sufficient...

Pioneer gold coinage is uniquely American. The phenomenon of a circulating private gold coinage that resulted from the Southern Appalachia and Western

(1842-52) G$1 A.Bechtler Dollar, 27G. 21C. MS61 NGC. K-24, R.3. Even though many thousands of Bechtler Dollars were produced, very few survived in Unc

(1842-52) G$1 A.Bechtler Dollar, 27G. 21C. MS61 NGC. K-24, R.3. This is a bright and highly lustrous example of this scarce territorial gold issue. Li

(1842-52) $5 A.Bechtler Five Dollar, 134G. 21C. XF45 PCGS. K-27, Low R.5. One of the more available Half Eagles struck by the Bechtlers, this is a ple

(1837-42) G$1 C.Bechtler Dollar, N Reversed--Damaged--ANACS. AU Details, Net VF20. K-4, R.4. Cleaned at one time and now retoning with a bright rose p

(1837-42) G$1 C.Bechtler Dollar, N Reversed AU58 NGC. K-4, R.4. Formerly offered as lot 7877 in our 2002 FUN Sale, where it was described as, "...

(1837-42) $2 1/2 C. Bechtler Quarter Eagle, 64G. 22C. AU53 PCGS. K-11, R.6. Among the most widely respected Territorial mints in U.S. history, the Bec

(1837-42) $2 1/2 C. Bechtler Quarter Eagle, 64G. 22C. MS61 PCGS. K-11, R.6. Another, and even finer Christopher Bechtler Two-and-a-Half, this coin is

(1837-42) $5 C.Bechtler Five Dollar, 134G, With Star XF45 PCGS. K-20, R.4. Formerly offered as lot 6411 in our 1996 FUN Sale, where it was described a

(1837-42) $5 C. Bechtler Five Dollar, 134G, With Star AU50 PCGS. K-20, R.4. Produced during the same era as the Christopher Bechtler Quarter Eagle in

Prior to the turn of the 19th Century, trappers and fur traders told of gold in the South Park area of Colorado. By the mid-1850s, news of gold discov

1860 $5 Clark, Gruber & Co. Five Dollar AU53 ANACS. K-2, R.4. This is a pleasing representative of this elusive Clark, Gruber & Company issu...

1861 $2 1/2 Clark, Gruber & Co. Quarter Eagle MS62 NGC. K-5a, R.7. Just a bit weakly struck in the centers, as one would expect from this issue,...

1861 $10 Clark, Gruber & Co. Ten Dollar--Scratched--ANACS. AU Details, Net XF45. K-7, R.4. The amount of remaining definition and the scarcity o...

1861 $10 Clark, Gruber & Co. Ten Dollar MS60 NGC. K-7, R.4. This is the finest 1861 Clark, Gruber we have handled since the Uncirculated coin in...

1861 $20 Clark, Gruber & Co. Twenty Dollar--Repaired--ANACS. XF Details, Net VF20. K-8, High R.5. This is a seldom-seen Colorado private issue. ...

1861 $20 Clark, Gruber & Co. Twenty Dollar (K-8) Struck Over an 1853 U.S. Assay Office Twenty Dollar (K-19) MS62 PCGS. New Kagin designation K-1...

1860 $20 Clark, Gruber $20 Copper Die Gilt Trial--Cleaned--ANACS. AU Details, Net XF40. K-4a, R.5. This interesting pattern was engraved back east by

Most Californians were not satisfied with private gold coiners or even the short-lived State Assay Office and demanded a United States branch mint, wh

No lot. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. Sometimes eBay Premier live bid software cannot keep up wit

1851 $50 RE Humbert Fifty Dollar, 880 Thous. VF35 PCGS. Laminated Planchet Obverse. K-5, Low R.5. The fact that this coin has a huge planchet laminati

1851 $50 RE Humbert Fifty Dollar, 887 Thous. XF40 Fields Tooled, Cleaned Uncertified. K-6, R.4. The first coins produced by the United States Assay Of

1851 $50 RE Humbert Fifty Dollar, 887 Thous. XF45 Rim Tooled Uncertified. K-6, R.4. A second Uncertified representative of this variety, both sides ex

John Glover Kellogg was cashier for Curtis, Perry & Ward of the U.S. Assay Office of Gold. When the branch mint opened (and effectively took ove...

1855 $50 Restrike Kellogg & Co. Fifty Dollar PR65 PCGS. A brilliant, deeply mirrored cameo proof. Struck from melted down Kellogg ingots recover...

Among the first coiners in California was Miners, Bank, an outgrowth of the many business interests of Stephen A. Wright and Samuel W. Haight in San F

(1849) $10 Miners Bank Ten Dollar AU58 PCGS. K-1, R.6. Unlike the previous piece, which was struck in silver alloy, this coin was struck on a planchet

Upon hearing of the California gold rush, John Little Moffat, who had worked the gold fields of Southern Appalachia along with three other New Yorkers

1849 $5 Moffat & Co. Five Dollar AU55 NGC. K-4, R.5. A high grade and attractive Moffat that has rich green-gold color and a few scattered abras...

1850 $5 Moffat & Co. Five Dollar AU58 NGC. K-7, R.4. Struck shortly after discovery of gold on the American River in California the previous yea...

1849 $10 Moffat & Co. Ten Dollar, "Ten Dol." VF25 PCGS. K-6a, High R.5. The first coins issued by the private firm of Moffat & Com...

1849 $10 Moffat & Co. Ten Dollar, "Ten D." VF20 PCGS. K-5a, High R.6. K-5a is differentiated from K-5 by large letters around the reve...

1852 $10 Moffat & Co. Ten Dollar VF20 PCGS. K-9, R.6. The wide spacing between the digits in the date is the diagnostic feature of this die vari...

1852 $10 Moffat & Co. Ten Dollar VF20 PCGS. K-8, R.6. Beginning January 12, 1852, 8,650 Ten Dollar Gold Pieces were issued after Moffat & Co...

Ironically, the first enterprise to produce private gold coins from California gold dust was not located in that area at all, but in the Territory of

1849 $5 Mormon Five Dollar XF45 PCGS. K-2, R.5. After the Gold Rush in California began in earnest in 1848, at the end of that year enough gold dust h

1850 $5 Mormon Five Dollar XF45 PCGS. K-5, High R.5. The 1850 Mormon Half Eagle differs primarily from the 1849 issue as it has a redesigned obverse w

1860 $5 Mormon Five Dollar AU58 PCGS. K-6, High R.5. The 1860 Half Eagle is undoubtedly the most famous and widely recognized of the six Mormon issues

Although gold was discovered at Sutter's Fort near present day Coloma, California on January 24, 1848, it was not until May of the next year tha...

1849 $5 Norris, Gregg, & Norris Five Dollar, Reeded Edge AU55 PCGS. K-3, R.6. The absence of an obverse period after the word ALLOY differentiat...

Oregon pioneers were among the first to hear of the discovery of large quantities of gold in California and among the first immigrants to the gold fie

1849 $10 Oregon Exchange Co. Ten Dollar XF40 PCGS. K-2, High R.6. Production of Ten Dollar gold coins by the Oregon Exchange Company started after the

1849 $5 Pacific Company Copper Gilt Five Dollar Pattern AU50 Uncertified. K-4, High R.7. Sharply struck with the obverse displaying a pole holding the

Count Samuel C. Wass and Agoston P. Molitor founded an assay office in San Francisco in October 1851. Both were Hungarian patriots who were expelled f

1855 $20 Wass Molitor Twenty Dollar, Small Head VF25 PCGS. K-7, High R.6. This Twenty Dollar gold piece was one of the coins issued by Wass, Molitor,

1855 $50 Wass Molitor Fifty Dollar VF25 PCGS. K-9, R.5. In addition to Twenty Dollar gold pieces, the firm of Wass, Molitor, & Company on Mercha...

1855 $50 Wass Molitor Fifty Dollar XF40 PCGS. K-9, R.5. A second and even finer example of this historically important and rare Territorial issue, bot

(1879-1883) J. Rosenthal Electrum (mixed gold and silver) Assayer's Ingot. No. 481. $15.60. 12.22 ozs. 988 Fine. Gold 12.09. 71mm x 35mm x 12mm....

1854 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-105, R.4, MS64 PCGS. Milky yellow-green patina with unabraded surfaces. DO in DOLLAR is recut, while die polis

1854 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-105, R.4, MS64 PCGS. Large head with 5 stars, the 1 in the date is directly below the first L in DOLLAR. An or

1854 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-108, R.5, MS62 PCGS. A yellow-green example. The fields have a few wispy abrasions that are only visible under

Undated 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-204, R.6, AU58 PCGS. Vigorously toned in shades of violet, electric-blue, and sea-green color. Attractive despi

Undated 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-221, R.4, MS63 PCGS. A well struck Fractional that does not have any individually mentionable abrasions. A die

Undated 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-222, R.4, MS63 PCGS. Well engraved medium Liberty head, with a die line (as made) from the tip of the coronet.

Undated 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-223, R.4, MS63 PCGS. The tip of the bust truncation touches the first star, while a star is centered below DOLL

1856 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-230, R.5, MS64 PCGS. A well struck piece with good eye appeal aside from a short pinscratch near the tip of the bu

1854 50C Liberty Octagonal 50 Cents, BG-306, R.5, MS61 PCGS. The date is entered with an unusual diagonal slant below the truncation of the effigy. FD

1856 50C Liberty Octagonal 50 Cents, BG-311, R.5, AU58 PCGS. Both sides have rich golden-brown color. The LI in CALIFORNIA is entered too low, but the

1852 50C Liberty Round 50 Cents, BG-401, R.5, MS63 PCGS. Liberty head on obverse, closed wreath on reverse. Similar in style to the contemporary Gold

1853 50C Liberty Round 50 Cents, BG-430, R.5, MS63 PCGS. Incorrectly attributed on the insert as a BG-409. This is an attractive design that closely r

1853 50C Liberty Round 50 Cents, BG-414, R.6, AU55 PCGS. The effigy of Liberty is skillfully engraved, while DOLLAR is awkwardly entered. The date is

1853 50C Liberty Round 50 Cents, BG-415, R.6, AU55 PCGS. First star above bust tip, with a pair of points embedded in the bust. Oversized but well eng

1853 50C Liberty Round 50 Cents, BG-428, R.4, MS62 PCGS. High relief, well engraved Liberty Head, with sawtooth denticles on the obverse. Coin turn. T

1853 50C Liberty Round 50 Cents, BG-430, R.5, MS63 PCGS. Star below bust tip, with the reverse same as BG-429. A well designed variety with skillfully

1859 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-702, R.4, MS63 PCGS. Large crude head, no stars beneath bust. Both sides are lightly pebbled, as struck due to

1866 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-708, R.6, MS63 PCGS. Large Liberty head with 9 stars, wreath is distant from border. Struck from clashed dies.

1871 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-714, R.5, MS65 PCGS. Large Liberty head with 9 stars, undersized 4 in fraction with the D in DOLLAR partly emb

1872 25C Washington Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-723, R.6, AU58 PCGS. 1 and 4 are close, while the final star is below Washington's queue. A less comm...

1866 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-737, R.7, MS62 PCGS. Rose and lemon-gold patina. Softly struck on the wreath, with a few wispy abrasions the f

1869 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-748, R.6, AU58 PCGS. Rich orange, rose, green-gray, and gold patina. The portrait has light rub, while the cen

1870 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-755, R.6, MS60 PCGS. Iridescent rose, apple-green, and gold patina. The stars resemble cinquefoils, while much

1871 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-765, R.4, MS63 PCGS. Rich orange-gold color. Somewhat softly struck on the wreath and obverse stars. A die cra

1871 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-767, R.4, MS62 PCGS. A sharply struck example that has a few faint slide marks on each side. Tiny berries to t

1871 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-769, R.6, MS62 PCGS. Orange and honey-gold patina. The reverse has a spindly die crack (as struck) from 1 to 6

1871 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-770, R.6, AU50 Mount Removed Uncertified, harshly cleaned; 1871 Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-840, High R.4, MS60

1871 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-770, R.6, MS61 PCGS. Dusky orange and bright yellow patina. Hair bun is crudely engraved. The second L in DOLL

1874/7874 25C Liberty Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-776, R.6, MS63 PCGS. Both sides are bisected (as struck) by heavy die cracks. Struck from clashed and rus

1870 25C Indian Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-789, R.5, MS61 PCGS. The Breen-Gillio reference refers to the variety as the "Goofy" or "Ugly&...

1872 25C Indian Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-791, R.4, MS64 PCGS. The design features a large well engraved head, sawtooth denticles at border, and large be

1875 25C Indian Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-798, R.6, MS61 PCGS. Large head, stars, and berries. The reverse is rotated 90 degrees clockwise from coin turn

1881 25C Indian Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-799O, R.5, MS63 PCGS. Large Indian head with finely engraved hair and feather details. The reverse wreath has l

1874 25C Indian Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-799Q, R.7, MS65 PCGS. Large portrait with large crude stars. The date is awkwardly spaced, and the 8 in the dat

1882 25C Indian Octagonal 25 Cents, BG-799CC, R.7 MS63 PCGS. The Breen-Gillio reference states this variety is "Rarity 8, possibly unique."...

1865 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-802, R.7, MS64 PCGS. The PCGS insert has incorrectly attributed this fractional piece as BG-803. The obverse has r

1870 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-808, R.4, MS62 PCGS. Large crude effigy with 7 stars. The die polish lines (as struck) form concentric rings in th

1871 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-812, R.6, MS63 PCGS. Large Liberty head with 7 stars. The bow of wreath resembles a trio of Cs, the result of a po

1871 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-813, R.5, MS61 PCGS. Sunset-gold and yellow-green color. The large, crude Liberty Head has extensive die rust, as

1871 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-813, R.5, MS63 PCGS. A prooflike lemon-gold Fractional. The obverse has heavy die rust, as made, while the reverse

1864 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-821, R.6, MS62 PCGS. Mostly yellow-gold in color, with some golden-brown color near the left reverse border. Struc

1869 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-829, R.6, AU53 PCGS. The effigy of Liberty has a crude high relief eye. The golden-brown surfaces change in color

1870 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-835, R.4, MS61 PCGS. A clutter-free design with extensive fields on each side. The reverse has short die cracks (a

1871 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-837, R.7, MS62 PCGS. The PCGS insert incorrectly attributes this fractional piece as BG-714. A bright and prooflik

1874 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-845, R.7, MS61 PCGS. An originally preserved, BU quality example.Ex: Lee and Shaffer Collections (Superior, 9/1988

1876 25C Indian Round 25 Cents, BG-853, R.6, MS62 PCGS. The PCGS insert incorrectly attributes the variety as BG-849. Medium Indian head within large

1876 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-854, R.5, AU55 PCGS. Golden-brown in color with a couple of dusky orange spots on the reverse. A die crack (as mad

1871 25C Liberty Round 25 Cents, BG-859, R.6, MS62 PCGS. The base of DOLLAR is bookended by a pair of berries. Large eye on Liberty, while DOLLAR has