I decided last January to consign my US/ Canadian obsolete/ chartered banknote collection to Heritage Auctions. This freed up a wad of cash to put into Ancient/ World/ gold coinage. I ended up winning this from their US Signature Auction yesterday. AV 1 Dollar 1876/5 MS-65 Prooflike BG-1129 California Territorial Gold Issue R-4 This coin was struck by Christopher Ferdinand Mohrig. On the10th of August/ 1876, he was raided by the Secret Service Agents, they confiscated his struck coins, planchets, dies.....put him out of business
If it was a California gold piece worth a dollar, why was it illegal to make or sell it for one dollar? It didn't say anything bout being from the US Mint or anything. No E Pluribus Unum or anything like that on it, I don't get it.
I think the government did not like the competition. The gold content was higher then the gold Dollars struck at Federal Mints. At first these where emergency coins to replace gold dust being used in barter, due to a lack of US minted Quarters/ Half Dollars/ Gold Dollars.....must have been nice to have "gold" 25 cent coins John
Good post. I'm curious...care to divulge a ballpark amount you acquired it for? (Ignore the request if I'm out of line...Spark)
