1834 C. Bechtler Five Dollar Gold Piece - 140 Grains, No Carat, Plain Edge

Coin Details

Auction Record

$85,188 AU55 03-09-2017 Kagin's

Description

The 1834 Christopher Bechtler Five Dollar Gold Piece with 140 grains, no carat designation, and plain edge is a scarce variety notable for two distinctive features: the absence of a carat mark indicating gold fineness, and the plain (smooth) edge rather than the reeded edge found on most Bechtler half eagles. The omission of the carat mark is unusual in the Bechtler series, where most coins explicitly state both the grain weight and the carat fineness. The plain edge is particularly significant because reeded edges were the standard for Bechtler's larger denominations. A plain edge coin would have been easier to produce, as it eliminated the separate reeding step, but it also made the coin more vulnerable to clipping — the fraudulent practice of shaving small amounts of gold from a coin's edge. The existence of plain edge varieties indicates that some Bechtler coins were rushed through production or represented early experiments before reeding became standard practice. Without the carat designation, recipients of this coin relied solely on Bechtler's reputation and the stated grain weight to assess its value. The combination of no carat mark and plain edge makes this among the most distinctive and scarce varieties in the Christopher Bechtler five-dollar series. No corresponding NGC entry has been identified for this specific variety, which may reflect NGC's different classification approach for Bechtler coinage.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Estimated 10-20 surviving examples. The combination of no carat mark and plain edge makes this one of the scarcest Bechtler five-dollar varieties.

Cross References

PCGS #10098