Fabulous Forties Friday! Post your '40's Coins please.

Here goes, a quarter eagle and a couple of tokens to mix things up, being Friday and all!

 

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Wife is at work and I am bored, so I'll play along. Why not, right?

 

Silver Picked from the junk bin at LCS

 

My pair of 2022 $40s should work

 

Got one in change a few weeks ago.

I can't remember if I got this one in change or if my grandfather did.
And if you want world coins here, grandpa's coins were forties from everywhere.

 

This isn't in the best condition, but I wanted a set of regular issued coins from 100 years before my birth year, and this one fit that criteria, and was affordable.

 

According to numismatic researcher and author, Roger Burdette, these pieces were paid to the Government of Saudi Arabia as part of a foreign aid package. According him, ARAMCO had nothing to do with it. They have been called "American sovereigns." They were issued in 1945 and again in 1947.

The 1945 pieces had a gold content that was equal to four British gold sovereigns.



The 1947 pieces were equal to one British gold sovereign. These pieces are a bit scarcer.



The Saudis were able to sell these pieces in India for significant premium. They were counterfeited, and if you decided to buy one or both, certification is highly recommended.

It was illegal for Americans to own these pieces until President Gerald Ford rescinded the laws against American gold ownership in the mid 1970s. Still, coin dealers bought and sold them "under the table" before then.

I bought this 1950 Saudi Arabian gold sovereign for bullion a few years ago at a coin show. It is NGC certified. I've read that some of the American pieces were melted to make these coins.

 

If the 1840s are included in this string, here is the most interesting coin of the decade, the 1848 CAL. quarter eagle. This coin was made from the first shipment of California gold bullion that made it to Washington, DC. It took the Army officer who was assigned to bring it, three months and one week to travel from San Francisco to Washington. This map shows his route.



And here is the coin. There are between 160 and 200 of these pieces known.

 

Fantastic coin. I am constantly amazed at some of the coins held by fellow CT members. Thanks for the info and the posting.

 

We on the '40's thread again?

 

Date on the left image.
Date on the left image.

 

Acknowledged to be America's first Commemorative.
@johnmilton Your piece is stunning. I've had the pleasure
of seeing many of your pieces from your collection. This coin
fits in well with the others. Thanks for sharing.