1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. Five Dollar - White Metal, K-10a

Coin Details

Description

The 1861 Clark, Gruber & Company Five Dollar in white metal, designated K-10a, is a variant striking from the half eagle dies distinguished from the K-10 by subtle die state or compositional differences. The Kagin catalog assigns separate numbers to track these distinctions among the extremely small population of surviving specimens. The white metal composition produces a coin with a bright, lustrous surface that shows the Liberty head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse in exceptional relief. White metal territorial gold patterns were collected as curiosities and reference pieces by nineteenth-century numismatists who could not afford the gold originals. The existence of multiple white metal sub-varieties indicates that Clark Gruber produced these pieces on more than one occasion, to satisfy requests from different collectors or at different points during their two years of operation.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. The K-10a white metal variant is known in fewer than 5 examples.

Cross References

Kagin K-10a (White Metal); NGC #31284