1860/56 Gold Half Dollar - BG-1014

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,025 MS65 02-24-2003 Superior Galleries

Description

Cataloged as BG-1014 in the Breen-Gillio reference, this 1860 round California gold half dollar measures approximately 13 to 14 millimeters in diameter — roughly the size of a modern dime. Produced during the later period of California fractional gold coinage, this piece reflects the continued market for small gold coins on the Pacific Coast, whether for everyday transactions, souvenirs, or the jewelry trade. This piece displays the characteristic Liberty Head obverse typical of its Breen-Gillio catalog group, with the denomination indicated on the reverse. The die engraving on California fractional gold pieces, while necessarily simplified by the small planchet size, often exhibits surprising detail and craftsmanship given the constraints of the medium. 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 variety displays an overdate (1860/56), where a new date was punched over an earlier date already present in the die. Overdates in the California fractional gold series provide evidence of die reuse — a practical economy measure by the private coiners who manufactured these pieces. The traces of the underlying date are typically visible upon close examination, and overdate varieties are sought by specialists for the insight they provide into production practices.

Rarity Notes

Available in the California fractional gold market. Period Two pieces are the most frequently encountered fractional gold issues, though condition and specific variety affect value significantly. The 1860/56 overdate is a collected variety that typically brings a premium over non-overdate issues of the same year and denomination.

Cross References

BG-1014; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10843; NGC #502014; California Fractional Gold Half Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882)