1854 Kellogg & Co. Twenty Dollar

Coin Details

Description

The 1854 Kellogg & Co. twenty-dollar gold piece in specimen striking quality is among the most important California territorial gold coins. John G. Kellogg, partnering with Augustus Humbert (the former U.S. Assayer), formed Kellogg & Company to fill the coinage gap after the U.S. Assay Office ceased operations and before the San Francisco Mint reached full production capacity. The dies were engraved by Albert Kuner, a talented German-born die sinker whose work on the Kellogg coins is considered among the finest of any territorial gold issue. The obverse features a Liberty Head closely modeled on the federal design, while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with the Kellogg & Co. name. This specimen striking exhibits exceptional sharpness and surface quality beyond typical business strikes. Kellogg & Company operated for just two years, 1854-1855, but produced some of the most recognizable and collected territorial gold coins. Their twenty-dollar pieces were widely accepted in California commerce and their consistent quality earned the firm a strong reputation during its brief existence.

Rarity Notes

Very rare as a specimen striking. Business strike examples of the 1854 Kellogg 0 are among the most available territorial gold coins, but specimen-quality pieces are extremely scarce.

Cross References

K-1 (Kagin); NGC #31163; Kellogg & Co., San Francisco; Albert Kuner (die engraver); specimen striking