1863 Gold Dollar - BG-1307A, Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$925 MS65 04-09-2018 eBay

Description

The 1863 California Fractional Gold Dollar (BG-1307A) is a restrike, produced from original dies at a date later than the year shown on the coin. Restrikes among California fractional gold pieces are uncommon and suggest that the original dies remained available and were used to produce additional specimens for collectors or dealers. This round piece measures approximately 15 to 16 millimeters in diameter — comparable in size to a modern cent — and carries the same design as its original-strike counterpart, though subtle differences in striking quality or surface characteristics may help specialists distinguish restrikes from period originals. The obverse features a Liberty Head design — a portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet or wreath — which is the most prevalent motif across the California fractional gold series. The reverse displays the denomination within a wreath or decorative border. 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. By the time this piece was produced, California fractional gold coins had evolved from monetary necessities into collectible curiosities and decorative items. The jewelers who manufactured Period Two pieces often produced them in greater quantities than their earlier counterparts, marketing them to tourists visiting San Francisco and to the growing community of coin collectors on the East Coast. Despite this shift toward the souvenir trade, these pieces remain genuine gold coins with real bullion value, and they occupy a unique niche in American numismatic history.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Restrikes of California fractional gold pieces were produced in limited numbers and are less frequently encountered than original strikes.

Cross References

BG-1307A; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #516783; NGC #501734; California Fractional Gold Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882); Restrike