Civil War Gold Dollars
HandH
Posts: 438 ✭✭✭
Coinage of the gold dollar was mandated by Congress in the Coinage Act of March 3, 1849. Congress ordered two new denominations be "...struck and coined at the mint of the United States, and the branches thereof...double eagles, each to be the value of twenty dollars, or units, and gold dollars, each to be the value of one dollar or unit." This Act was largely as a result of the vast amounts of newly discovered gold in the foothills of Northern California known as the California Gold Rush.
The gold dollar was minted from 1849-1889 based upon the design by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. There were three types of the gold dollar during its lifetime. The Civil War era (1861-1865) gold dollars are commonly referred to as Indian Princess Head, Large Head or Type III gold dollars. The gold dollar had been proposed as early as 1791 by the Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton but had been rejected then and several times subsequently until 1849.
The design of Liberty is from one of Longacres versions of Venus Accroupie, a sculpture on display at that time In Philadelphia.
With a mintage of 527,150 there are an estimated 2500 survivors. This issue is common in nearly all grades. The finest grade is MS 67 with as many as 3 to 5 known. This date typically comes with striated surfaces, but is well stuck with good luster and color. Many are from clashed dies. This HandH example, PCGS MS 66+ CAC, is pleasing yellow gold and vibrant mint luster.
Next up, 1862. Sorry all, no 1861-D. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that issue. Calling JJSingleton...
The gold dollar was minted from 1849-1889 based upon the design by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. There were three types of the gold dollar during its lifetime. The Civil War era (1861-1865) gold dollars are commonly referred to as Indian Princess Head, Large Head or Type III gold dollars. The gold dollar had been proposed as early as 1791 by the Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton but had been rejected then and several times subsequently until 1849.
The design of Liberty is from one of Longacres versions of Venus Accroupie, a sculpture on display at that time In Philadelphia.
With a mintage of 527,150 there are an estimated 2500 survivors. This issue is common in nearly all grades. The finest grade is MS 67 with as many as 3 to 5 known. This date typically comes with striated surfaces, but is well stuck with good luster and color. Many are from clashed dies. This HandH example, PCGS MS 66+ CAC, is pleasing yellow gold and vibrant mint luster.
Next up, 1862. Sorry all, no 1861-D. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that issue. Calling JJSingleton...
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
1
Comments
To really experience a gold dollar you need to handle them raw.
If you handle a gold dollar raw, how can you tell if you're actually holding it?
To really experience a gold dollar you need to handle them raw.
If you handle a gold dollar raw, how can you tell if you're actually holding it?
My thoughts exactly!
1862 DDO FS-101 Very obvious doubling on the headdress, beads, and several letters.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
The war continued unabated. Victories, defeats, and heavy losses for both federal and confederate troops. Jefferson Davis inaugurated, the battle of Shiloh, the battle of Seven Pines after which Lee renames his command the Army of Northern Virginia, Second Bull Run or Second Manassas, the incredibly bloody battle of Antietam, and the battle of
The 1862 gold dollar had a huge mintage of 1,361,355 with estimated survivors numbering 4500. As the most plentiful date in Mint State for the Type III design it is common in grades up to gem and even then only moderately scarce. The finest graded is an NGC MS 68 with perhaps ten to twelve in MS 67. The numismatic rarity in all grades is R-4.1 and R-7.2 in gem or better. This issue is usually very well struck, frosty and quite lustrous. Die striae in the form of tiny parallel raised lines ( due to hasty preparation of dies and grinding of the fields ) are common, as they are on many gold ( and silver ) coins of the Civil War era. This HandH example, graded PCGS MS 66 CAC, is well struck with sharp details. Die striations are present in the fields. A lustrous example with pleasing color. PCGS pop 30 in 66 ( 3 in 66+ ) with 7 finer. CAC has 16 in 66 with 8 finer. Asking.... Kidding.
Post your gold dollars people.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
With a mintage of 6200 business strikes, the estimated survivors number 50-75 with 8 in gem or better. Doug Winter regards this issue as the single rarest gold dollar from the Philadelphia Mint, rarer even than the more celebrated 1875 with a paltry mintage of 400 business strikes. David Akers commented in 1975 that this issue is "the rarest Philadelphia Mint gold dollar of the 1860's... and actually more difficult to obtain in full mint state than the highly regarded 1875." This coin has a numismatic rarity of R-8.1 in all grades and R-9.6 in MS 65 or better. This issue is usually well made. Die striations are common on higher grade pieces under magnification. Locating an 1863 gold dollar with original surfaces and luster is difficult. Most have been cleaned or dipped and have poor eye appeal as a result. This HandH example, graded PCGS MS 65 CAC, is clearly one of the top half dozen or so 1863 gold dollars and is firmly established as a condition census. Ex Vasquez Rocks via DWN. It is well struck with sharp details. There are minor scuffs consistent with a grade of a high quality MS 65. There are a few small copper flecks on the obverse but difficult to see without a 5x loupe. The 1863 gold dollar has beautiful green-gold color with touches of rose. Q. David Bowers has stated that an 1863 gold dollar "...with a legitimate claim to MS 63 or finer is a first class rarity." Doug Winter commented that "...the opportunity to acquire a piece grading MS 64 or above would be quite special and should be looked at as important." PCGS pop 4 in 65, with 3 finer. CAC pop 3 in 65, with 1 finer.
Post any gold dollar. A very good series. And as RickO likes to state, "it's gold".
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
To really experience a gold dollar you need to handle them raw.
If you handle a gold dollar raw, how can you tell if you're actually holding it?
Here's one I ...guarantee.... gets held.
Not Civil War date. Type 1. Chose it when designing the ring for its size.
But it IS a gold dollar that gets handled. Daily.
Post any gold dollar. A very good series.
Not a Civil War era piece, but a year filled with branch mint rarities like the silver dollar and the $3 gold. The 1870-S G$1 was apparently saved in substantial numbers so most survivors are MS; those with wear are less common. This is an PCGS AU55 CAC, downcrossed from an NGC AU58.
The Philadelphia Mint produced 5900 business strike gold dollars in 1864. There are an estimated 125 survivors in all grades and 15 survivors in gem or better. The finest graded is a PCGS MS 69 with another 4 or 5 in MS 68. According to Doug Winter, high quality uncirculated pieces exist in enough quantity to suggest that a hoard existed at one time. This issue is known for nice, frosty luster and pleasing rose and orange color. Most examples have extensive clash marks and show date numerals weakly struck, although there are notable exceptions. Planchets are often defective and dies were incompletely finished showing die striae. This example, graded PCGS MS 64 CAC, shows clashing, particularly on the reverse. It is well struck save for some softness in the 186 of the date. It has nice orange-gold color
Show your gold dollars.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Wow bidask. I'd love to see that in hand. Great looking coin.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
Probably the only way they survived was already as a jewelry piece.
My wife has a pair as earrings, and a single as a necklace. All bought very cheap, already holed.
Probably the only way they survived was already as a jewelry piece.
What are the dates?
The 1865 gold dollar had a mintage of only 3725 business strikes and there are an estimated 80 examples to have survived the last 150 years, and 15 survivors in gem or better. Among Philadelphia Mint issues it ranks as the second rarest gold dollar, behind the 1863. The finest is a PCGS MS 68 and at least 2-3 others that grade MS 67. The numismatic rarity is R-8.2 in all grades and R-9.3 in gem or better. Most of the higher grade examples are well detailed overall, but struck with clashed dies. They exhibit good frosty luster and rich yellow and green-gold coloration. This HandH example, graded PCGS MS 66, is arguable condition census. Ex DWN, it is well struck and exhibits the die clashing as above. It is frosty with yellow and green-gold color. PCGS pop 6 in 66, with 3 finer. CAC has certified 1 in 66, with 2 finer.
We have ended this series of CW gold dollars. Post all the gold dollars you have.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
This 65 gold dollar has the most magnificent dark blue toning. Difficult to capture in a photo
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
Glad to see this thread back.... lots of nice gold..... I often wonder how many of these are still buried from the Civil War days.... and I have no doubt that some were buried to hide from the Union forces....Cheers, RickO
Great thread that I must have missed originally
Latin American Collection
I never get enough of Civil War Gold.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals