1849 Massachusetts & California Co. Five Dollar - Copper, K-4a

Coin Details

Description

The K-4a copper striking of the 1849 Massachusetts & California Company five-dollar piece represents a distinct die variety in the firm's half eagle series, struck in ungilded copper. The K-4 die pairing is separate from the K-1, K-2, and K-3 combinations, indicating the Massachusetts & California Company employed at least four different die pairings for its five-dollar denomination, a surprisingly large number for a short-lived frontier minting operation. This plain copper piece lacks the gilding found on some other M&C base-metal strikings, showing the natural reddish-brown patina of copper that has aged over more than 175 years. Without gilding, the piece makes no attempt to resemble gold and is clearly identifiable as a non-precious-metal striking. The K-4a designation in the Kagin catalog specifically identifies the copper metal variant of the K-4 die pairing, with other letter suffixes assigned to the same die pair struck in different metals. This systematic cataloging allows collectors and researchers to track the full range of known strikings from each die combination.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Specific die variety populations are small. K-4a copper is one of several varieties in this die pairing.

Cross References

K-4a (Kagin). Massachusetts & California Co. $5 copper, die pair 4.