1849 Massachusetts & California Co. Five Dollar - Brass, K-2c

Coin Details

Description

The K-2c brass striking of the 1849 Massachusetts & California Company five-dollar piece represents a specific die variety within the firm's non-gold production. The Kagin catalog assigns distinct numbers to each combination of die pair and metal, and K-2c identifies this particular brass variant using the second die pairing known for the half eagle denomination. Brass, a copper-zinc alloy with natural golden coloring, was frequently chosen for non-gold strikings of California territorial designs because it approximated the color of the gold originals. The K-2c piece carries the full M&C half eagle design with clear detail appropriate to a relatively soft striking metal. The Massachusetts & California Company's die variety sequence reveals a more complex production history than might be expected from a brief frontier operation. Multiple die pairings for the same denomination suggest either die breakage requiring replacement, deliberate design modifications, or production spread across multiple sessions. The K-2c brass variant is collected as part of the comprehensive M&C die variety series.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Individual Kagin die varieties in brass vary in availability. K-2c is one of several brass variants cataloged.

Cross References

K-2c (Kagin). Massachusetts & California Co. $5 brass die variety.