1831 C. Bechtler Five Dollar Gold Piece - No 150 Grains, Beaded

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,190 XF 05-01-1990 Stack's

Description

The 1831 Christopher Bechtler Five Dollar Gold Piece without the 150-grain designation and with beaded border is a significant variety that omits the grain weight mark found on its companion issue (PCGS #10118). The absence of "150.G" from the die removes the explicit weight guarantee, though the coin contained gold weight appropriate to its five-dollar denomination. The beaded border is present, matching the decorative treatment of the "with 150.G" variety. The omission of the grain weight is noteworthy because the weight mark was one of the primary features that assured recipients of a Bechtler coin that it contained the promised amount of gold. Early Bechtler dies were experimental in their inscription content as Christopher Bechtler determined which information was most important to include. The later standardization on displaying grain weight prominently indicates that market feedback encouraged Bechtler to include this guarantee on subsequent issues. This variety represents an early state of Bechtler's die design evolution for the five-dollar denomination. The obverse features "CAROLINA GOLD" with "C. BECHTLER / ASSAYER" but without the grain weight, while the beaded border provides the only consistent design element shared with the 150-grain variety. Collectors pursuing a complete Bechtler five-dollar set prize this variety for its relative scarcity and its documentation of the mint's early design experimentation.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Estimated 15-30 surviving examples. The no-grain-weight five-dollar variety is scarcer than the 150-grain issue.

Cross References

PCGS #10121; NGC #31048