1849 1849' Massachusetts & California Co. Copper Fantasy Gold Half Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$15,275 AU55 01-09-2013 Heritage Auctions

Description

This copper piece bearing the Massachusetts & California Company half eagle design is classified as a fantasy striking, a piece produced not as a die trial or pattern during the original minting process, but rather as a collector item created at a later date using either original dies or copies. The distinction between fantasy and die trial is important: die trials are legitimate production artifacts from the minting process, while fantasies are numismatic products created specifically for collectors. The copper fantasy reproduces the M&C five-dollar design in full, with the Liberty obverse and company-name reverse that characterize the original gold coins. The copper medium provides excellent detail reproduction, and these pieces often show sharper design elements than surviving gold originals, making them useful reference specimens. Massachusetts & California Company copper pieces are among the most commonly encountered items bearing this issuer's name, which creates a somewhat misleading impression of the firm's output. The original operation produced gold coins for circulation; the copper fantasies that populate many collections were produced decades later for an entirely different purpose. Collectors should approach M&C copper pieces with full understanding of their status as fantasy strikes rather than Gold Rush artifacts.

Rarity Notes

Scarce but more available than gold originals. Copper fantasies are among the most commonly encountered M&C pieces.

Cross References

Kagin reference series. Massachusetts & California Co. copper fantasy striking.