1854 25c California gold

[Guest]

I wanted to give this its own thread as its so interesting and exciting.

I picked this up in an auction described by seaby as a fantasy souvenir with a valuation of 30/- in probably the mid 60's.

I picked it up for £51

I have now researched it and given it it's BG code which is 109. Here is a graded one...

It turns out there are 50 survivors of this coin left in the world...

Rarity is 8.5!

I can't wait to get NGC to grade this one! Making a video on this coins very interesting history. It was minted by a French jewellery called Antoine Louis Nouizillet in San Francisco in the first period when these coins were used as money before the San Francisco mint opened. In 1856 the secret service clamped down and period 2 coins after that were mostly souvenirs or sold as to get around the law.

[sovereignsteve]

As long as the feds don't class it as counterfeit money or you'll get locked up for owning it the next time you hit Florida

[Guest]

Just now, sovereignsteve said:

As long as the feds don't class it as counterfeit money or you'll get locked up for owning it the next time you hit Florida

They sent a secret service agent to each jeweller in San Francisco to try to buy one of each denomination. If they were successful they prosecuted. This guy sold his business in 1859 presumably as he couldnt take the heat ))

[MikeOxlong]

Thats a really interesting find, i wonder if it inspired the new £1 coin

[Clens92]

That's a beauty, for sure.  Great score - going off previous sales, you're looking at 6x your outlay, at least!

Looks to be in respectable condition as well.

[Guest]

Here is the accompanying video

http://youtu.be/Gc0bkeI051E

That's a beauty, for sure.  Great score - going off previous sales, you're looking at 6x your outlay, at least!

Looks to be in respectable condition as well.

Yes the coin looks to have been treasured all these years.

[Pepactonius]

Great find!

 

I'm no expert on California Fractional Gold, but it looks like your BG-109 example is the variety with the fully struck-up berry on the reverse, to the left of the 1 in 1/4.  In the 2003 Breen-Gillio book, this was considered the normal or main variety (Lee 6C: D 25B). 

Earlier, in the 1970 Lee book, this is variety 6C, and it was considered the rarer of the two varieties, with a known population of just 1-3 examples (vs 4-5 pieces for the Lee 6B).  The 1970 price was given as $50.00 for Lee 6C.  In my copy of Lee, I see an imbedded 1975 newspaper ad from New England Rare Coin Galleries where they offer a Lee 6C in choice BU condition for $255.00.

In the 1980 Doering book, this variety is called Doering 25B (Lee 6C), and was considered more common (5-10 pieces) than the Doering 25A (Lee 6B).  The 1980 price given in the Doering book was $650 in AU, but Doering prices were sometimes considered to be "fantasy valuations".  By 2003, the Breen_Gillio book rated the combined population for BG-109 (Lee 6B and 6C) at 31-45 known pieces.     

In any case,  it's pretty rare.   

[DRooster]

Fascinating thing!

Bit of an ugly mug though

[Guest]

Great find!

 

I'm no expert on California Fractional Gold, but it looks like your BG-109 example is the variety with the fully struck-up berry on the reverse, to the left of the 1 in 1/4.  In the 2003 Breen-Gillio book, this was considered the normal or main variety (Lee 6C: D 25B). 

Earlier, in the 1970 Lee book, this is variety 6C, and it was considered the rarer of the two varieties, with a known population of just 1-3 examples (vs 4-5 pieces for the Lee 6B).  The 1970 price was given as $50.00 for Lee 6C.  In my copy of Lee, I see an imbedded 1975 newspaper ad from New England Rare Coin Galleries where they offer a Lee 6C in choice BU condition for $255.00.

In the 1980 Doering book, this variety is called Doering 25B (Lee 6C), and was considered more common (5-10 pieces) than the Doering 25A (Lee 6B).  The 1980 price given in the Doering book was $650 in AU, but Doering prices were sometimes considered to be "fantasy valuations".  By 2003, the Breen_Gillio book rated the combined population for BG-109 (Lee 6B and 6C) at 31-45 known pieces.     

In any case,  it's pretty rare.   

Fascinating information so over time they have been gradually appearing )) PCGS reports 50 survivors and NGC has only 10 ever slabbed. The highest price for an MS66 at auction was $6600 and MS62 seems to be about $1200 to $1500.

Some of the coins out there seem to have more life.

As you clearly take an interest.. You may be interested to know that NGC seem to think the $2.5 eagle I just sent in is something called a 1911-D weak D. I am potentially very excited...

[Kman]

What a lovely little coin and piece of history

 

 

[Guest]

Half stacker and half old things fanatic...

[Agpanda]

Interesting article about 1/4$ grading of a 1876 coin

http://www.collectiblesgroup.com/news/article/4067/

[Guest]

That's an interesting article as it seems there is more yet to be discovered in this area

[PureGold]

http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2016/09/experts-identify-new-california-small-gold-dollar-variety.html?utm_content=buffer535bb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=contentlinks