Dahlonega Gold and a relatively NEWP
Avocet
Posts: 269 ✭✭✭✭
Interest in certain coins seems to fluctuate every few years in our hobby. Based on what I have seen in recent years, Dahlonega pieces that are “all there” have been especially popular. I was very fortunate to come across this 1846-D Quarter Eagle not long ago; it is one of my favorites in the collection. Not many uncleaned higher-grade examples of this coin exist today. I love to see the “skin of trade” on these coins, which, for me, adds to the value of the stories they could tell.
I have been interested in Southern and territorial gold largely because of historical significance; these coins carry enhanced value to me when I consider them in the context of the time when they were minted.
I am curious to know your thoughts on why Dahlonega seems popular these days, and please share comments or examples of your favorite Southern gold. Thanks for taking a look…
Comments
Very nice, perfect crust!
I just picked up my first Dahlonega. I think the uptick in interest is (like a lot of the hobby) due to the story and the history and scarcity (compared to most P gold) of the coins and mint.
Chopmarked Trade Dollar Registry Set --- US & World Gold Showcase --- World Chopmark Showcase
I think overall interest in gold now plus Dahlonega’s rarity. Especially well struck ones. Btw, there’s already a thread about these & it had a couple recent posts. Maybe go back about 5 pages & you’ll find it. Really like your piece above, too - nice one!
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
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Outstanding coin!
Latin American Collection
Very nice coin. Congratulations.
Thanks for taking a look-- before this post I did search for recent Dahlonega posts and didn't find one-- maybe you are referring to Asheland's new Half Eagle. I was lucky to see that in person and it is amazing! Apologies for brining up Dahlonega again if this has already been through recent discussions.....
Phenomenal coin. I don’t own any southern branch mint gold, but I’d be happy to have one half as nice as yours.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Thanks, Boosibri! As an interesting side note, this coin was once a part of the Auraria collection, and you made a post about that (with a link) several years ago.....
That’s a great example of an original Dahlonega gold coin. The interest in those and other early branch coins like the ones from Charlotte have always been popular, high priced and hard to find in decent condition as far back as I remember. But with the recent interest in all gold coins, even more people are finding out about them and seeking them out.
Heres my lower grade example, the only Dahlonega in my collection. I liked the green so much I had to buy it about 15 years ago. Sometime I’m going to take better pictures of it, this old iPhone picture looks too pixelated on my larger iPad, but looked perfect on my old iPad mini that I used to edit it on several years ago
Mr_Spud
It’s Asheland’s thread Dahlonega Gold Coins & it’s now on page 4. Looks like we’re talking about the same one. No need to apologize; your thread may turn out to be the “go to”. Why not?
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
A sharp example of a highly desirable coin.
Very nice original 1846-D $2.50 Avocet.
The example from my set is also an AU58 CAC.
For someone trying the assemble the full 1840 to 1907 set I find that Dahlonega examples with CAC approval are particularly hard to find. It helps to work closely with dealers who specialize in rare date gold.
I considered myself fortunate to add these 1851-D and 1857-D $2.50's this summer when DWN sold Part 2 of the Star City collection.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
@OnlyGoldIsMoney Time to change the name of your registry...the end is in sight, only 13 more to go! What an impressive set.
Chopmarked Trade Dollar Registry Set --- US & World Gold Showcase --- World Chopmark Showcase
Me likey. Congrats!
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
Nice coin - those "D" are toughies and with the Freemont collection adding more to the pops increased interests.....
Several reasons -
I currently have no Dahlonega or Charlotte gold in my personal collection, though I do love the history and the sex appeal of southern gold. Peak Rarities is an aggressive buyer of all original southern gold, but for myself I prefer pioneer issues. Here's one of my favorite Bechtler pieces that currently resides in my box of 20.
AU55 CAC (and I would have bought the coin as a 58 cac)
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That’s a nice one! It was fun to see it in person, you’ve seen my two examples, but I’ll post the dollar here because I love the skin on it the most:
My YouTube Channel
Thanks for sharing these examples; they are exceptional! I recall the Star City collection and was very impressed with it. I have also found that connection with a great dealer like DWN has been key.
I love the Bechtler you have shared; and I have some nice specimens as well. One of my theories for the particular interest in the Dahlonega gold has also been DWN's recent new edition publication. It seems to me that Dahlonega gold may have a slight edge over Charlotte gold in terms of interest, which may have something to do with availability of quality specimens that are "all there". I suspect we may see stronger interest in territorial gold given recent updated publication as well. My personal interest relates in part to my history in North Carolina; going back 6 generations. My family used to take North Carolina Gold to the Bechtlers to create currency. Plenty of great history to attach to these specimens...
lermish, thanks for the kind words about my set. Its only 13 to go but those include heavy hitters like 1840-D, 1848 CAL, 1854-D, 1854-S, 1855-D, 1856-D, 1864, 1865 and 1875. Only the 1845-D might be considered easy; 1846-C, 1852-D and 1853-D are seldom seen with CAC approval.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
I have a southern gold type set I formed over a period of years. I think that Dahlonega coins are popular because they came from a mint in a town that few people have heard of. When I was young collector in the 1970s, I didn't know how to pronounce "Dah-lon-e ga." Charlotte is a well known southern city. Therefore it's not as exotic.
Oddly enough, it's easier to get well made, higher grade Dahlonega cois than Charlotte coins. One of the reasons is that Dahlonega made a better product. It also might be because Charlotte had a more active economy which used the coins more.
My first Dahlonega coin was an 1845-D $5 gold which I did not keep. My next one was this piece, which I still have. It's an 1843-D quarter eagle, and it's among the most common.
The 1854-D Three Dollar Gold is a "dream coin" I figured I would never own, but I did end up with this one. It's a PCGS AU-55 CAC. A heavy hitter dealer didn't like it for the grade so I ended up with it.
The hardest Dahlonega type coin is the 1855-D Type II gold dollar. This is a good deal rarer than the Three Dollar gold although the mintage was higher. I way over paid for this, but the reverse is striking. This Philadelphia mint never did any better.
Nice coin 🪙, love the crust on it as well 👍
That Bechtler is a knockout.
@BillJones: every time I see a pic of your 1855-D I fall in love with it all over again!
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
You have shared some incredible pieces here-- the 1854-D and the 1855-D Type II have both been on my radar, and I suspect I may never be able to add either to my set. I will keep up the search, however!
Very nice newp, way to go.
Nice original Dahlonega @Avocet
It is very tough to get a CAC sticker on C and D gold. JA is very picky on those.
This is a tough date with a sticker:
Beautiful example
I was pretty focused on finding the right 38-D for my Classic Head set, but have recently caught the bug and have slowly started to branch out and started to look at more C and D pieces. This is the one I ended up with (AU-53 CAC):
Here are a few from my Dahlonega Type Set
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
Love that Classic Head 38-D. I am hoping to get one of those some day for my set. Working to get all 8 coins (some say 7 because they don't think the Cross 4 counts). Congrats on a fabulous pickup. That's one to keep and enjoy.
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 37 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
@mrcommem
Your 38-D is a WOW coin. I could look at that all day. Thanks for sharing.
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 37 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Some of our favorites Dahlonega pieces we placed, interestingly a few of them would have fit nicely with yours.
1849-D $2.5 AU58 PCGS CAC
1850-D $2.5 AU58 PCGS CAC
1854-D $2.5 AU58 PCGS CAC
1856-D $2.5 VG10 PCGS CAC
1857-D $2.5 MS61 PCGS CAC
1843-D $5 SMALL D MS61 PCGS CAC
1854-D $5 Large D XF40 PCGS CAC
1856-D $5 VG08 PCGS CAC
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Here are a couple of Dahlonegas.
Great Classic Heads @skier07
There are only 5 AU53CACs out there and 2 have been posted here in a couple days.
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 37 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Anytime you post coins from your collection I’m always impressed. That three dollar is a knockout! And I do like that type two dollar. 👍
My YouTube Channel
wow.... so many beautiful coins.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
@Avocet - That’s a lovely QE.
I only have one Dahlonega example as I’m far more partial to Dahlonega’s “sister” mint.
And her sister… P58/CAC
The classic heads are incredible; I am impressed with what has been shared here so far--> This forum must have a large percentage of all active Dahlonega collectors onboard given the number of great examples people have shared here. @mrcommem and others have shared examples that I have been looking to add to my set as well. Absolutely beautiful pieces, and so hard to find!
This thread is getting a great response! I posted the coin below recently, but it also has a place here:
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
One of the all-time greats of the Gold Dollar series -- these seem to come up so rarely. This is a beautiful coin, and I would be grateful to have it!!
I've shared my only Dahlonega before. P55 Very happy with it....
Particularly nice for an 1842-D $2.50.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
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I owned this 57-D from 2014-2019, first look I knew it was a perfect 58…………. Here is my pic for comparison.
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spacehayduke, that is a great photo of the 57-D. I surely agree it is a perfect 58.
May I upload a copy to my registry set to appear along with the trueview image?
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
That is an incredible 57-D; I would love to have that in my collection and excellent images, too. Specimens like this, with such clear strikes and original surfaces, are so hard to locate, and I understand the thrill of finding one. I believe the 57-D tends to be better struck than most other Dahlonega quarter eagles from that decade.
Of course you can! The only thing I ask of my images is that they are free to use for personal use, but please do not use them for commercial purposes. Thanks for asking! And enjoy this gorgeous D-mint quarter eagle, they just don’t come around like that too often.
Best, SH
I took a second look through this thread, very impressive coins in here! Since I have so few, I’ll add the other two examples that I have:
My recent five dollar example:
And this Charlotte $2.50
I’ve had this one for a few years and I love the skin on it!
It’s in a holder from around 2008 to 2010, and believe it or not. There actually is a TrueView when you pull up the CERT:
My YouTube Channel
I also have this, but of course it wouldn’t count as an actual coin in a registry as it is a contemporary piece of jewelry, I’ve had a few people suggest that I remove the coin from the pin, but then, all you have is a polished and damaged coin. I thought it was much cooler to leave it as found:
My YouTube Channel