1864 Gold Half Dollar Die Trial - BG-1015a, Silver

Coin Details

Auction Record

$9,200 MS60 09-01-2003 Bowers & Merena

Description

The 1864 California Fractional Gold Half Dollar (BG-1015a) is a silver die trial struck from dies intended for gold coinage. Die trials in non-gold metals are extraordinarily rare among California fractional gold issues, as the entire production series was centered on gold. This silver striking was produced to test die quality or as a numismatic curiosity, and it stands among the most unusual pieces in the Breen-Gillio catalog. Measuring approximately 13 to 14 millimeters in diameter — roughly the size of a modern dime — this piece demonstrates the remarkable miniaturization that characterizes the California fractional gold series. 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

Silver die trials of California fractional gold pieces are among the rarest items in the Breen-Gillio catalog, with very few examples known. Extremely rare.

Cross References

BG-1015a; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10962; NGC #502015; California Fractional Gold Half Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882); Die Trial (Silver)