1871 Gold Half Dollar - BG-1028

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,013 MS62 07-25-2003 American Numismatic Rarities

Description

The 1871 California Fractional Gold Half Dollar (BG-1028) is a round gold piece measuring approximately 13 to 14 millimeters in diameter — roughly the size of a modern dime. 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 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. 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

Collectible. Period Two California fractional gold coins are encountered more regularly than Period One issues, though all fractional gold remains a specialized collecting area with limited overall supply.

Cross References

BG-1028; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #10857; NGC #502028; California Fractional Gold Half Dollar; Round; Period Two (1859–1882)