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Civil War soldiers and gold coins

PrethenPrethen Posts: 3,452 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
My doctor said that Civil War soldiers would carry gold coins to pay the doctors in the field to be especially efficient and as least pain as possible. Is this true? I would think that gold coins were extremely scarce in the purse of the normal mid-1800's person...especially an Army "grunt".

Comments

  • BuzzybestBuzzybest Posts: 932
    Correction: Marines were known as grunts. The Army were known as soldiers.
  • OnlyGoldIsMoneyOnlyGoldIsMoney Posts: 3,371 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've never heard that story but gold coin did not circulate much in the eastern States after 1862. Gold coins commanded a premium in greenbacks.

    I wonder how much extra care $2.50 would have purchased?


    image
    NO END IN SIGHT LIB $2.50'S CAC ONLY
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  • yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486 ✭
    I have studied the Civil War extensively, Starting as an undergrad up through grad school ( which I never finshed), and over the past, 40 years, OMG! I can't believe many soldiers from that era carried any gold coins, sounds like one of those stories that was misconstrued at some point and handed down.

    PS Never heard that story.
  • BuzzybestBuzzybest Posts: 932
    Are you kidding?! My doctor still insists on getting gold coins from me for treatment,especially for brain surgery.image
  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,789 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I pay my Dentist in gold coins. He's Iraqi born and France raised and likes it when I come
    in for work. I like the idea of gold as I get a discount that way. Old gold I bought 10-20 years
    ago that has gone up in value a great deal. I love the discount!

    bobimage
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • JamesMurrayJamesMurray Posts: 4,036 ✭


    << <i>Correction: Marines were known as grunts. The Army were known as soldiers. >>



    That's not totally accurate , the Marines may well have adopted the nickname alongside Jarhead but a Grunt was any Infantryman with little to no training. It means Ground Reinforcement Unit , this encompassed the army who were not refered to as just soldiers , they had a dozen nicknames , Grunt was one of them.
  • BuzzybestBuzzybest Posts: 932


    << <i>

    << <i>Correction: Marines were known as grunts. The Army were known as soldiers. >>



    That's not totally accurate , the Marines may well have adopted the nickname alongside Jarhead but a Grunt was any Infantryman with little to no training. It means Ground Reinforcement Unit , this encompassed the army who were not refered to as just soldiers , they had a dozen nicknames , Grunt was one of them. >>



    I stand corrected soldier.
    Captain Lee
  • JamesMurrayJamesMurray Posts: 4,036 ✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Correction: Marines were known as grunts. The Army were known as soldiers. >>



    That's not totally accurate , the Marines may well have adopted the nickname alongside Jarhead but a Grunt was any Infantryman with little to no training. It means Ground Reinforcement Unit , this encompassed the army who were not refered to as just soldiers , they had a dozen nicknames , Grunt was one of them. >>



    I stand corrected soldier.
    Captain Lee >>



    Ground Reinforcement Unit Not Trained , to be accurate as to what grunt means.
  • SaorAlbaSaorAlba Posts: 7,560 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not sure about keeping the coins to pay doctors, but I know they kept them for luck ie the Dixon $20 that was found in the CSS Hunley.
    Tir nam beann, nan gleann, s'nan gaisgeach ~ Saorstat Albanaich a nis!
  • BuzzybestBuzzybest Posts: 932
    It's good to see some veterans here with a terrific knowledge of military history.
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would think they were used to bribe the enemy to not take one into custody or bribe guards to escape.
    A gold coin might be more money than what a grunt had ever seen in his life back then.
    image
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • BuzzybestBuzzybest Posts: 932


    << <i>I would think they were used to bribe the enemy to not take one into custody or bribe guards to escape.
    A gold coin might be more money than what a grunt had ever seen in his life back then.
    image >>



    They were much more likely to have been used by officers,who often had to pay their own men to fight.
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Gold dollars are found fairly frequently in Civil War camps by metal detectorists. I less frequently see quarter or half eagles dug, but the little $1 coins are not that uncommon.
  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 7,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have detected dozens of Civil War camp sites, and gold coins are a rarity. I have seen about 10 gold dollars dug and 3 or 4 other gold coins. Copper Nickel Indians and Flying Eagle cents are probably the most common coin found followed by half dimes.
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,102 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Given that a private's monthly salary was something like $12.50 a month it is hard to believe that this story is true. Perhaps it might be true for some officers who came from wealthy families, but not the average guy who often had everything he earned taken by the sutlers.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,017 ✭✭✭✭✭
    He watched The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly too many times.
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,805 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What was nice about gold dollars was that they were thin and light and could be sent from home to the soldier in the field... And lots were. Often these would be sewn into the clothing.
  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,291 ✭✭✭✭
    Many Confederate soldiers requested payment in Bechtler gold, so it is not unreasonable to think that a soldier may have carried some smaller denomination gold

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • theumptheump Posts: 634 ✭✭
    I have a few friends who are diggers, those guys who go around the Eastern part of the country and dig for relics. They have told me many stories of finding gold coins (civil war era) on their digs. They have told me it is not uncommon to find gold amongst the bullets, buckles and such.
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ive never heard of that story but who knows for sure. there are little things that we still or will never know about
  • JustlookingJustlooking Posts: 2,895 ✭
    Maybe your doctor wants you to pay him in gold. image

    I can imagine some soldiers might have taken a little gold into battle, thinking along those lines. Thank God for Obamacare. image
    Let's try not to get upset.
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Not sure about keeping the coins to pay doctors, but I know they kept them for luck ie the Dixon $20 that was found in the CSS Hunley. >>



    That lucky $20 that saved his life by deflecting a shot was the first story that popped into my mind as I read the thread.
    It's a neat story and the coin is still around with it's engraving and the big dent where the shot hit it.
    I guess the luck ran out because later he did die with the coin in Hunley.
    Ed
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,805 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Many Confederate soldiers requested payment in Bechtler gold, so it is not unreasonable to think that a soldier may have carried some smaller denomination gold >>

    . oh Yeah... Never heard THAT. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when a ragged group of Rebs demand of General Braxton Bragg. "we'uns ain't fighting till we get paid in Bechtler Gold Dollars". image

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