1849 J.S. Ormsby Ten Dollar - Silver, K-1, Overstrike on Mexican 2 Reales

Coin Details

Description

This is a silver striking of the J. S. Ormsby & Co. ten-dollar dies over a Mexican two-real coin. J. S. Ormsby & Co., Dr. J. S. Ormsby and Major William M. Ormsby, opened a gold smelting and coining office on K Street in Sacramento in the summer of 1849 and struck their pieces with a sledge-hammer. The undated coins read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and CAL. around the initials J.S.O., with the value and a ring of stars on the other side. A ten-dollar piece assayed at the Mint in 1849 weighed about 258 grains at .842 fine, worth $9.37. Adams records J.S.O. ten-dollar impressions struck over a silver two reales of Ferdinand VII of the Mexico City mint dated 1815. Catalogue number: K-1.

Cross References

K-1