1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. Twenty Dollar - Brass

Coin Details

Description

The 1861 Clark, Gruber & Company Twenty Dollar in brass is an off-metal pattern struck from the double eagle dies. Brass, a copper-zinc alloy, produces a yellowish color that is the closest approximation to gold among the common base metals used for off-metal territorial patterns. The brass composition gives this piece a warm golden-yellow tone that, in certain lighting conditions, could be mistaken for low-karat gold. The design faithfully reproduces the 1861 double eagle with Liberty head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse bearing "PIKES PEAK GOLD" and "TWENTY D." inscriptions. Brass off-metal patterns are less commonly encountered than bronze or white metal varieties in the Clark Gruber series. The choice of brass indicates an intentional effort to produce a pattern that visually approximated the gold original more closely than bronze or white metal alternatives.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Brass double eagle off-metal patterns are among the scarcest composition variants in the Clark Gruber series.