1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. Five Dollar - Bronze

Coin Details

Description

The 1861 Clark, Gruber & Company Five Dollar in bronze is an off-metal pattern struck from the firm's half eagle dies. Bronze strikings of territorial gold coins served as affordable demonstration pieces that allowed the design to be preserved and studied without consuming precious gold. The coin displays the full 1861 half eagle design with the Liberty head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse bearing "CLARK GRUBER & CO." and "FIVE D." The bronze composition gives the coin a distinctive reddish-brown color quite different from the warm yellow of the gold originals. Clark Gruber off-metal half eagles in bronze are among the more available off-metal varieties from this mint, though they remain extremely scarce in absolute terms. The half eagle denomination saw the largest production runs among Clark Gruber coins, which may explain a slightly greater number of off-metal specimens.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Estimated 3-8 surviving examples in bronze.