ND Mormon Gold Piece - Uniface Brass Reverse, Plain Edge Restrike

Coin Details

Description

The undated Mormon Gold Piece uniface brass reverse restrike with plain edge is one of the most unusual composition variants in the Mormon restrike series. Brass — an alloy of copper and zinc — was rarely used for territorial gold die impressions, making this piece a distinctive outlier among the predominantly copper and lead restrikes. The brass composition gives this piece a warm golden-yellow color that more closely approximates the appearance of the original gold coinage than copper or lead. This visual similarity motivated the choice of brass for this particular restrike, though it also reflects opportunistic use of whatever planchet material was available during a given restrike session. The reverse design shows the clasped hands, "PURE GOLD," and "FIVE DOLLARS" in the characteristic warmth of brass. As one of only a small number of brass Mormon restrikes known, this piece represents an exotic composition variant that significantly expands the range of metals documented in the Mormon restrike census.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Brass restrikes from the Mormon dies are among the rarest composition variants, with very few examples known to exist.

Cross References

NGC #31337