Quarter Dollar Round, Period 1 (BG-201 to BG-236)

About This Coin

Cataloged as BG-201 through BG-236 in the Breen-Gillio reference, these Period 1 round gold quarter dollars represent the earliest phase of round-format quarter dollar production in California's fractional gold series, dating from the early to mid-1850s when the Gold Rush economy demanded small gold coins for everyday commerce. The round format distinguished these pieces from the octagonal quarter dollars produced concurrently, with both formats serving the same economic function of providing fractional gold denominations below the half dollar. Period 1 round quarters are scarcer than their Period 2 counterparts, reflecting the smaller initial production runs during the early years of the California fractional gold tradition. A notable auction result of $60,000 in MS63 grade at Goldberg Auctioneers demonstrates the extraordinary premium that high-grade early-date examples command from serious collectors. The BG-201 to BG-236 range encompasses 36 BG numbers, each representing a distinct die variety produced by various San Francisco-area jewelers and die sinkers whose workshop identities can often be traced through characteristic design elements. These diminutive gold coins, typically 10-12 mm in diameter, required considerable skill to engrave and strike, and the best examples display remarkable detail given their miniature scale. Collectors pursuing Period 1 round quarter dollars engage with some of the most historically significant and visually charming pieces in the entire California fractional gold series.