1871 Gold Quarter - BG-865

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,208 MS64 07-12-2005 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1871 California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar (BG-865) is a tiny round gold coin, measuring approximately 10 to 11 millimeters in diameter and representing a 25 cents denomination in the California fractional gold series. The second period of California fractional gold production saw these coins transition from pure monetary instruments to items valued equally by tourists, collectors, and jewelers who fashioned them into ornamental pieces. The obverse carries a small but detailed portrait of Liberty, the workhorse design of the California fractional gold series. Dozens of different Liberty Head dies were used across the many die varieties cataloged by Breen-Gillio, each with subtle differences in hair arrangement, coronet style, and portrait positioning. The reverse shows the denomination and related inscriptions. 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. This piece belongs to the second era of California fractional gold production, when these tiny coins transitioned from utilitarian currency to cherished mementos of California’s Gold Rush heritage. While sharing the conventional round format of federal coinage, the remarkably tiny size of these gold pieces set them apart from any circulating currency of the era, enhancing their appeal as novelties and decorative objects. Today, Period Two pieces constitute the majority of California fractional gold coins available to collectors, though scarce varieties and high-grade examples still command strong premiums.

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-865; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10726; NGC #501865; California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882)