1851 State of California K-1a Gold Quarter Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

This is the 1851 State of California two-and-a-half-dollar pattern listed by PCGS as K-1a. A set of patterns dated 1851 reads SAN FRANCISCO STATE OF CALIFORNIA. The twenty- and ten-dollar pieces pair a Liberty head with the arms of California, a seated woman gazing through the Golden Gate, a bear beside her and a miner in the distance; the five and two-and-a-half-dollar pieces have a Liberty head and a wreath with the value. Adams knew them in silver, copper and white metal, and pointed out that the 1851 date rules out the story that they were struck at the San Francisco Mint, which opened in 1854. PCGS does not name the metal; the NGC id on the page is the silver piece. Catalogue number: K-1a. PCGS number 10313.

Cross References

K-1a