1876 Gold Quarter - BG-780, Reverse Only

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,600 MS62 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1876 California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar (BG-780) is cataloged as using the reverse die from BG-780, a muling of obverse and reverse dies from different pairings. Such die combinations are notable in the California fractional gold series because they reveal the informal die management practices of the private coiners who produced these diminutive gold pieces. This octagonal coin measures approximately 10 to 11 millimeters in diameter — smaller than a modern dime — and is of particular interest to specialists who study die pairings and die state progressions within the Breen-Gillio numbering system. 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

Available in the California fractional gold market. Period Two pieces are the most frequently encountered fractional gold issues, though condition and specific variety affect value significantly.

Cross References

BG-780; Breen-Gillio catalog; PCGS #961811; NGC #501853; California Fractional Gold Quarter Dollar; Octagonal; Period Two (1859–1882)