1842 A. Bechtler One Dollar Gold Piece - 27 Grains, 21 Carats, Plain Edge

Coin Details

Auction Record

$14,100 MS63 04-23-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1842 August Bechtler One Dollar Gold Piece with 27 grains, 21 carats, and plain edge is one of two edge varieties produced by August Bechtler, Christopher Bechtler's nephew who assumed operation of the Rutherfordton mint after Christopher's death in 1842. August's gold dollars used a 27-grain standard at 21-carat fineness, a combination that distinguished his products from his uncle's earlier 28 and 30-grain issues. August Bechtler brought his own approach to die design and specifications while maintaining the fundamental Bechtler tradition of producing gold coins for the Carolina mining region. His dollar coins feature "A. BECHTLER" on the reverse, clearly identifying them as August's products rather than Christopher's. The "27.G" and "21.C" marks provide the weight and fineness guarantees that were a hallmark of all Bechtler coinage. The plain edge variety lacks the reeded grooves found on its companion issue (PCGS #10041), making it slightly more vulnerable to clipping but also simpler to produce. Both edge varieties circulated alongside each other and alongside the remaining stock of Christopher Bechtler's coins. August continued the family minting tradition through the mid-1840s, though the discovery of gold in California in 1848 gradually shifted the nation's gold production westward and diminished the importance of the Carolina gold region.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Estimated 20-35 surviving examples. The plain edge variety is somewhat scarcer than the reeded edge version.

Cross References

PCGS #10040; NGC #31049