1854 Kellogg & Co. Twenty Dollar - Copper

Coin Details

Description

This copper striking of the 1854 Kellogg & Co. twenty-dollar dies is a rare off-metal impression that preserves Albert Kuner’s die work in exceptional detail. Copper strikings from territorial gold dies were typically produced in very small numbers for die verification, as presentation pieces, or for numismatic preservation. The copper composition reveals design details that are often obscured by wear on circulated gold examples. Kuner’s Liberty Head and heraldic eagle designs can be studied in their original intended form, with the full depth and precision of the die engraving clearly visible. Off-metal strikings from Kellogg dies are among the most sought-after California territorial varieties. The firm’s brief two-year existence means that any non-standard striking represents a tiny fraction of an already limited total output.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Copper off-metal strikings of the Kellogg dies are known in only a handful of examples.

Cross References

K-1 copper (Kagin); NGC #31320; Kellogg & Co., San Francisco; copper off-metal striking