1870 Gold Dollar - BG-1108

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,220 MS63 09-01-2003 Bowers & Merena

Description

The 1870 California Fractional Gold Dollar (BG-1108) is an octagonal gold piece measuring approximately 15 to 16 millimeters in diameter — comparable in size to a modern cent. Produced during the later period of California fractional gold coinage, this piece reflects the continued market for small gold coins on the Pacific Coast, whether for everyday transactions, souvenirs, or the jewelry trade. Like the majority of California fractional gold pieces, this coin bears a Liberty Head portrait on its obverse, executed in the miniaturized style necessitated by the tiny planchet. The reverse presents the denomination value and date, typically encircled by a laurel or oak wreath. The octagonal format is one of the distinctive hallmarks of California fractional gold coinage, distinguishing these pieces from conventional round coins and adding visual interest that has long attracted collectors. Period Two California fractional gold coins like this specimen represent the mature phase of a distinctly Californian numismatic tradition. While the urgent economic need that spawned these coins in the 1850s had passed, production continued because the coins had become cultural artifacts — symbols of California’s Gold Rush heritage and popular keepsakes. Many Period Two pieces feature higher-quality die work than their Period One predecessors, suggesting that manufacturers invested in improved tooling to serve an increasingly discriminating collector and tourist market.

Rarity Notes

Moderately available. While California fractional gold as a class is uncommon by general numismatic standards, Period Two issues are among the more accessible entries in the series.

Cross References

BG-1108; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10919; NGC #502108; California Fractional Gold Dollar; Octagonal; Period Two (1859–1882)