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Christopher Bechtler, ONE DOLLAR N. CAROLINA, 28

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Christopher Bechtler, ONE DOLLAR N. CAROLINA, 28
<Our item number 135051><B>Christopher Bechtler, ONE DOLLAR N. CAROLINA, 28 gr. centered, no star. Kagin-3, Breen-7747 &#34;Very rare&#34;. NGC graded MS-61.</B> Well struck and mostly untoed. The surfaces are prooflike. Bright light-golden luster on nicely reflective mint bloom. A touch of weakness and a &#34;wavy&#34; planchet that is normally seen on the commer varieties, is here nowhere to be seen. We do require mention of some minor adjustment-type marks along one portion of the rim at INA GOLD, possibly a minting artifact. An historic early Gold Dollar. The Federal government only experimented with making a gold dollar in 1836, yet did not strike one for circulation until 1849. However, from the 1830s well into the 1850s, the firm run by the Bechtler clan had one-upped the U.S. Mint and been striking this useful denomination for many years. Bechtler&#39;s coins circulated far and wide. They were accepted at par with regular United States coinage denominations and are mentioned in the economic histories of the time. <B>Pop 4; 1 finer in 62.</B> <B>&#40;PCGS # 10058&#41;</B>. <BR><BR>Historic reference: According to noted authority on Territorial Gold Coins, Donald Kagin, in his book &#34;Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States,&#34; of all the private coiners, &#34;Bechtler&#39;s operation was one of the fairest to the miners, as evidenced by the longevity of the mint &#40;almost 20 years&#41; and its substantial production &#40;over &#36;2 million&#41;.<BR><BR>&#34;Having perceived a need for a smaller denomination, Bechtler issued the first &#36;1 gold piece in the United States about the latter part of 1831. Another major modification in the Bechtler coinage occurred in 1834. That year Congress passed a bill reducing the gold content of our gold coins. Bechtler prepared new dies engraved with the date &#34;August 1, 1834&#34; and began producing new coins with the reduced weight.<BR><BR>&#34;Bechtler coins appearing later in 1834 bore the words &#34;NORTH CAROLINA GOLD , CAROLINA GOLD, and GEORGIA GOLD. Since there were three different purities and corresponding weights appearing on the &#36;5 gold coins &#40;20 carats-140 grains; 21 carats-134 grains; and 22 carats-128 grains&#41; it is believed that the location inscriptions actually designated three different degrees of fineness, regardless of where the stamped gold was mined. <BR>Estimated Value &#36;18,000 - 20,000. <BR><BR>Our item number 135051<BR><IMAGES><P ALIGN="CENTER"><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/47jpegs/135051.jpg"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/47jpegs/135051N2.jpg"> </P></IMAGES>