1849 Oregon Five Dollar - Rolled Gold Restrike

Coin Details

Description

The 1849 Oregon Exchange Company Five Dollar rolled gold restrike is an unusual variant produced from the original territorial dies on a planchet of rolled gold — a composite material consisting of a thin layer of gold bonded to a base-metal core. This construction method, also known as gold-filled, created a piece with the outward appearance of a gold coin at a fraction of the material cost. The use of rolled gold planchets for restrikes of the Oregon Exchange Company dies dates to the period when numismatic interest in territorial gold coinage was growing but original gold examples were already commanding high premiums. The rolled gold composition represents a compromise between the expensive gold restrikes and the clearly non-precious copper and white metal versions, offering a gold-toned piece at a more accessible price point. The rolled gold five-dollar restrike carries the standard Oregon Exchange Company designs — the beaver on the obverse and the denomination within a wreath on the reverse — though the striking characteristics may differ from both the originals and the solid gold restrikes due to the different physical properties of the composite planchet. The layered construction of rolled gold can sometimes be visible at the edge or at points of wear, distinguishing these pieces from solid gold examples. This restrike variant demonstrates the breadth of interest that the Oregon territorial series has generated among collectors, with restrikes produced in an unusually wide range of compositions from solid gold through various base metals.

Rarity Notes

Unique or nearly so. PCGS records a single example (mintage 1). The exact surviving population is not documented. This variety was struck from the original Oregon Exchange Company dies using a rolled gold planchet.

Cross References

PCGS #507067