1854 Gold Half Dollar - BG-1304A, Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$435 MS64 12-14-2021 eBay

Description

The 1854 California Fractional Gold Half Dollar (BG-1304A) is a restrike, produced from original dies at a date later than the year shown on the coin. Restrikes among California fractional gold pieces are uncommon and suggest that the original dies remained available and were used to produce additional specimens for collectors or dealers. This round piece measures approximately 13 to 14 millimeters in diameter — roughly the size of a modern dime — and carries the same design as its original-strike counterpart, though subtle differences in striking quality or surface characteristics may help specialists distinguish restrikes from period originals. Like the majority of California fractional gold pieces, this coin bears a Liberty Head portrait on its obverse, executed in the miniaturized style necessitated by the tiny planchet. The reverse presents the denomination value and date, typically encircled by a laurel or oak wreath. The remarkably diminutive size is one of the distinctive hallmarks of California fractional gold coinage, making these among the smallest coins ever struck for genuine commerce and adding a novelty that has long attracted collectors. Period Two California fractional gold coins like this specimen represent the mature phase of a distinctly Californian numismatic tradition. While the urgent economic need that spawned these coins in the 1850s had passed, production continued because the coins had become cultural artifacts — symbols of California’s Gold Rush heritage and popular keepsakes. Many Period Two pieces feature higher-quality die work than their Period One predecessors, suggesting that manufacturers invested in improved tooling to serve an increasingly discriminating collector and tourist market.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Restrikes of California fractional gold pieces were produced in limited numbers and are less frequently encountered than original strikes.

Cross References

BG-1304A; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #516781; NGC #501504; California Fractional Gold Half Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882); Restrike