Dollar Octagonal, Period 2 (BG-1100 to BG-1199)

About This Coin

Cataloged as BG-1100 through BG-1199 in the Breen-Gillio reference, these Period 2 octagonal gold dollars represent the later production phase of California fractional gold dollar coinage, manufactured primarily during the 1870s and early 1880s. The octagonal format, originally adopted to differentiate these private issues from official United States coinage and avoid counterfeiting statutes, had by this period become an established tradition associated with California's unique numismatic identity. Period 2 octagonal dollars typically feature Liberty head, Indian head, or Washington head designs paired with wreath or denominational reverses, produced by San Francisco jewelers and die sinkers who maintained the fractional gold tradition as a specialty craft even after its economic necessity had passed. A notable auction result of $22,000 in MS62 grade at Goldberg Auctioneers illustrates the collector demand for these later-period pieces. The BG-1100 to BG-1199 range encompasses multiple die varieties from various makers, each with distinctive stylistic characteristics that allow attribution to specific workshops. While generally more available than the scarcer Period 1 octagonal dollars, individual die varieties within this range show considerable variation in rarity, and certain BG numbers remain genuinely elusive. The series appeals to collectors who appreciate both the historical connection to California's Gold Rush heritage and the charming miniature artistry of these diminutive gold coins.