1860 Mormon Five Dollar - Copper, Plain Edge

Coin Details

Description

The 1860 Mormon Five Dollar copper plain edge piece is a complete two-sided striking from the 1860 Deseret Mint half eagle dies, distinguishing it from the more common uniface restrikes that show only one side. This bilateral copper piece preserves both the obverse "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" with All-Seeing Eye and bishop’s mitre and the reverse clasped hands with "PURE GOLD" and "FIVE DOLLARS" — providing a complete copper record of the 1860 Mormon gold half eagle design. The 1860 date makes this piece particularly interesting within the Mormon gold series. The eleven-year gap between the well-documented 1849-1850 Deseret Mint production and the 1860 issue remains a subject of numismatic debate. The plain edge treatment is consistent with the original Mormon gold coins, which lacked the reeded edges found on contemporary federal issues. Copper strikings from territorial gold dies serve both as collector items and as numismatic reference pieces.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Complete bilateral copper strikings from the 1860 Mormon dies are among the rarest pieces in the series.