1831 C. Bechtler Two and a Half Dollar Gold Piece - No 75 Grains, Coarse Beads

Coin Details

Auction Record

$180,000 MS62 01-16-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1831 Christopher Bechtler Two and a Half Dollar Gold Piece without the 75-grain designation and with coarse beads is among the earliest quarter eagle denominations produced by the Bechtler mint. This variety is identified by the absence of any grain weight mark on the coin — where other Bechtler quarter eagles prominently display "75.G" to indicate the gold content, this variety omits the weight entirely. The beaded border consists of large, widely spaced beads, distinguishing it from the fine beads variety (PCGS #10082). The omission of the grain weight is significant in Bechtler coinage, as the weight mark served as a guarantee of gold content to the coin's users. Early Bechtler issues sometimes varied in their inscriptions as Christopher Bechtler experimented with different die designs and information to include on his coins. The coarse bead border treatment gives the coin a bold, distinctive appearance consistent with early private mint production. Christopher Bechtler's quarter eagles filled an important gap in the circulating currency of the North Carolina gold region. The $2.50 denomination was practical for everyday commerce in the mining communities surrounding Rutherfordton, where gold dust and nuggets were the primary medium of exchange before Bechtler began striking coins. The obverse features "CAROLINA GOLD" with the denomination value, while the reverse displays "C. BECHTLER" as the assayer's mark.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Estimated 20-35 surviving examples. The no-grain-weight varieties are scarcer than those with the 75G mark.

Cross References

PCGS #10083; NGC #31035