1834 C. Bechtler Five Dollar Gold Piece - 140 Grains, No C, No Star

Coin Details

Auction Record

$82,250 XF45 03-09-2017 Kagin's

Description

The 1834 Christopher Bechtler Five Dollar Gold Piece with 140 grains, no "C" (carat designation), and no star is a variety distinguished by the omission of two elements commonly found on other Bechtler five-dollar pieces: the carat fineness mark and the decorative star. The absence of both creates a sparser reverse design that includes only the grain weight and the denomination, without the additional information about gold purity or decorative embellishment. The "No C, No Star" designation indicates that this die was engraved without the carat abbreviation (typically "20.C" for 20 carats) and without the small star that appears as a decorative element or separator on many Bechtler coin varieties. The omission of the carat mark means that users of this coin had to rely on Bechtler's reputation and the stated grain weight alone to gauge the coin's gold content, rather than having an explicit fineness guarantee stamped into the metal. This variety may represent an early die in the 140-grain series, struck before Christopher Bechtler standardized the inclusion of carat marks on his five-dollar pieces, or it may reflect a deliberate design choice for a specific batch of coins. The simpler inscription set gives the coin a distinctive, uncluttered appearance that contrasts with the more informational density of varieties bearing full weight, carat, and geographic designations.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Estimated 25-40 surviving examples. The "No C, No Star" variety is distinctive for its simplified inscriptions.

Cross References

PCGS #10096; NGC #31013