Territorial Gold

Private or Territorital gold coins represent one of the most historically and numismatically significant areas of America's past. They were struck as a private enterprise in some instances, and were government sanctioned in others, using locally mined gold almost exclusively. Struck mainly in Georgia and the Carolinas, Colorado and California, these issues filled a void in the Philadelphia Mint's ability to fully utilize the gold then being mined, and produce coins needed. The various issues circulated extensively from their inception in 1830 by Templeton Reid, a jewel in Milledgeville, Georgia. Famous issuers include the Bechtler family in North Carolina 1830-1852, Clark, Gruber & Co. in Denver 1860-1861 and Mormon gold pieces 1849-1860, struck in Salt Lake City, Utah. $1, $2 1/2 and $5 denominations were most often struck. San Franciso became the foremost location of privately minted gold coinage beginning in 1849, upon the occasion of California's gold rush, with many issuers minting their own coins until government intervention in 1855. Historic issuers include: Moffat & Co., Baldwin & Co., Wass, Molitor & Co. and Kellogg & Co., along with government sanctioned August Humbert and the United States Assay Office of Gold. Higher denominations of $10, $20 and $50 were coined extensively. Following the establishment of the San Francisco Mint in 1854, private mintage of coinage for circulation in California was banned. These rare mementos are highly treasured, and in most instances quite costly. Some more affordable pieces include the U.S. Assay Office 1852 $10, 1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. pieces and a few of the $1 Bechtler pieces.
Excellent reference books include: PRIVATE GOLD COINS AND PATTERNS OF THE UNITED STATES by Don Kagin; A GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS by R.S. Yeoman; and the all encompassing COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF U.S. AND COLONIAL COINS by Walter Breen.

Famous Issues: Bechtler Coinage-North Carolina and Georgia (1836-1852), Moffat & Co.-San Francisco 1849-1853, August Humbert-United States Assay Office in San Francisco 1851-1853, Baldwin & Co. in San Francisco 1850-1851, and many other historic and well known issues.

A Highlight Territorial Gold from our Auctions

1849 $5 Moffat PCGS 50

Auction 3280   Monday, May 21, 2012 from 3:00pm-10:00pm ET
Territorial Gold This is the Only Page
Lot	Image	Description			Track
2155		1853 Calif .50 Round BG-421 NGC 64 Liberty Head. Round. Rarity 4. Minted by M. Deriberpie, 1852-54. BG-421
2156		1869 Calif .25 Octag BG-712 PCGS 64 Liberty Head. Octagonal. Rarity 5. Minted by Frontier & Co. 1864-71/2. BG-712
2157		1869 Calif .25 Octag BG-748 PCGS 0 Bent UNC Details Liberty Head. Octagonal. Rarity 5. Minted by Robert B. Gray & Co., , 1858-71 successors to Antoine Louis Nouizillet. BG-748
Auction 3282   Wednesday, May 23, 2012 from 3:00pm-10:00pm ET
Territorial Gold
Lot	Image	Description			Track
1747		1876 Calif .25 Round BG-881 NGC 63 PL Indian Head. Round. Rarity 5. No CAL. Backdated issue. Minted by Christopher (Christoph) Ferdinand Mohrig, San Francisco. BG-881
Auction 3283   Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 3:00pm-10:00pm ET
Territorial Gold
Lot	Image	Description			Track
2605		1852 $10 Humbert NGC 0 Au Details Repaired 1852 United States Assay Office of Gold. $10. 884 THOUS. This coin was an integral part of the Territorial series of gold coinage of the California gold rush and was issued by the United States Assay Office of Gold during the time of Moffat & Co (1851-1852) at the time which Augustus Humbert had served as Assayer. The Assay Office was the predecessor of the branch mint at San Francisco. The United States Assay Office minted gold pieces which following the establishment of the Federal Mint, were melted and minted to become United States twenty dollar gold coins.
2606		1874 Calif .25 Octag BG-795 PCGS 64 Indian Head. Octagonal. Rarity 3. Minted by Christopher (Christoph) Ferdinand Mohrig, San Francisco. BG-795
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