1849 Templeton Reid Ten Dollar Gold Piece

Coin Details

Auction Record

$8,625 MS60 07-27-2008 Stack's

Description

The 1849 Templeton Reid Ten Dollar Gold Piece is a unique California territorial gold coin struck by Templeton Reid during the Gold Rush of 1849. After his brief Georgia minting operation in 1830, Reid traveled to California nineteen years later to resume private coinage, this time assaying and minting California gold. The obverse features "CALIFORNIA GOLD" with the date 1849, while the reverse displays "TEN DOL." with "TEMPLETON REID / ASSAYER." This coin represents Reid's return to private minting during one of the most prolific periods of territorial gold production in American history. Unlike his Georgia coins, which were struck from native Georgia gold, the 1849 California issues were produced from Gold Rush placer deposits. The coin was struck in San Francisco, where numerous private minters operated to address the chronic shortage of federal coinage in the newly acquired territory. The 1849 Templeton Reid Ten Dollar piece is unique — only a single specimen is known to exist, now housed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Numismatic Collection. It has never been offered at public auction and is considered permanently impounded. The coin provides a remarkable connection between the two great American gold rushes and demonstrates Reid's lasting association with private gold coinage across two decades.

Rarity Notes

Unique — only 1 known specimen, impounded at the Smithsonian Institution. Never offered at public auction.

Cross References

PCGS #10332; NGC #31010