1849 Oregon Five Dollar - White Metal Restrike, 6.61 Grams

Coin Details

Description

The 1849 Oregon Exchange Company Five Dollar white metal restrike at 6.61 grams is a slightly heavier variant than the 6.42-gram white metal restrike also cataloged from the same dies. Both were produced from the original five-dollar dies created by Hamilton Campbell and Victor Wallace for the Oregon territorial mint in Oregon City, with the weight variation reflecting differences in the hand-cut planchets used for these collector-oriented productions. This example is classified under the general Territorials denomination rather than the specific Oregon Gold category, a cataloging convention that may reflect its base-metal composition distinguishing it from the gold-bearing Oregon territorial issues. The white metal composition produces the characteristically bright silver-white appearance of tin-based alloys, immediately distinguishing these pieces from the warm golden hue of the original five-dollar gold coins and gold restrikes. The Oregon Exchange Company's beaver design has become one of the most recognized and beloved motifs in American territorial numismatics. The beaver, representing the fur trade that had been the economic lifeblood of the Oregon Territory before the Gold Rush, was an apt choice for the territory's coinage. White metal restrikes like this 6.61-gram example preserve this iconic design for collectors and historians, serving as faithful impressions from the original dies used to produce the only authorized coinage of the Oregon Territory.

Rarity Notes

Rare. This specific weight variant (6.61g) may be represented by fewer than 10-15 examples. Specialist Oregon territorial collectors seek to assemble complete sets of all restrike compositions and weight variants.

Cross References

PCGS #507072; Kagin K-1e (Five Dollar White Metal Restrike, 6.61g variant)