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Although gold was discovered at Sutter's Fort near present day Coloma, California on January 24, 184

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:185.00 - 246.00 USD
Although gold was discovered at Sutter's Fort near present day Coloma, California on January 24, 184
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 that the first private gold coiner in California began to strike coins from the gold dust. Norris, Gregg, & Norris brought coining equipment from New York to Benicia on the northeast side of San Francisco Bay during the spring of 1848. By the end of May, they were striking Five Dollar gold coins, which were well received and widely circulated. Several months later, they moved to Stockton where they issued additional Half Eagles with the work STOCKTON punched on them. It is not known why only Five Dollar denominations were struck.1849 $5 Norris, Gregg, & Norris Five Dollar, Plain Edge AU55 PCGS. K-2, R.5. Thanks to a California newspaper reference that preceded those for any other firm, Norris, Gregg, & Norris is generally credited as the first of the private minters to service Gold Rush California. The editors of the Alta California, in the issue dated May 31, 1849, stated: "We have in our possession a Five Dollar gold coin, struck at Benicia City, although the imprint is San Francisco. In general appearance it resembles the United States coin of the same value, but it bears the private stamp of 'Norris, Grieg, & Norris,' and is in other particulars widely different." Kagin (1981) calls attention to the fact that the coin described by the editors of the Alta California "resemble[d] the United States coins of the same value," but, the Norris, Gregg, & Norris issues known to today's collectors (and represented by the present example) are not at all similar in appearance to the United States Liberty Half Eagle. Whether or not, as Kagin suggests, Norris, Gregg, & Norris issued another, as yet undiscovered Five Dollar gold coin prior to the familiar types is unknown with certainty. What we do know, however, is that the Norris, Gregg, & Norris coins were widely accepted as a circulating medium of exchange at the time of issue. By 1851, however, the coins seem to have disappeared from general circulation. It is likely that Norris, Gregg, & Norris ceased coinage operations shortly after the April 20, 1850 issue of the Stockton Times reported on the importance of their Five Dollar coins in commerce. Struck on a typical native green-gold planchet with pleasing remnants of brightness in the more protected areas. The surfaces are a little scuffy from circulation, but the only singularly mentionable distractions are concentrated in the reverse field below the date. Sharply defined throughout with only the barest friction over the highpoints. This is a bright and attractive specimen of one of the first privately issued gold coins in California and excellent for type purposes. Listed on page 287 of the current Guide Book.From The Estate of Jack L. Klausen. 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 with that pace, so we strongly recommend that you place a realistic proxy bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Premier carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.