1857 Gold Quarter - BG-1301A, Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$550 MS66+ 07-09-2021 eBay

Description

The 1857 California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar (BG-1301A) 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 10 to 11 millimeters in diameter — smaller than 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. The obverse carries a small but detailed portrait of Liberty, the workhorse design of the California fractional gold series. Dozens of different Liberty Head dies were used across the many die varieties cataloged by Breen-Gillio, each with subtle differences in hair arrangement, coronet style, and portrait positioning. The reverse shows the denomination and related inscriptions. 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. This piece belongs to the second era of California fractional gold production, when these tiny coins transitioned from utilitarian currency to cherished mementos of California’s Gold Rush heritage. While sharing the conventional round format of federal coinage, the remarkably tiny size of these gold pieces set them apart from any circulating currency of the era, enhancing their appeal as novelties and decorative objects. Today, Period Two pieces constitute the majority of California fractional gold coins available to collectors, though scarce varieties and high-grade examples still command strong premiums.

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-1301A; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #516780; NGC #502301; California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882); Restrike