ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST ; of UNITED STATES PRIVATE AND TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS Gfecffee ' •'■■■ ■■ V fr..v ■ , X-, Milford Coin & Stamp Co. 487 State St. New Haven 10, Conn. ■V* ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST OF UNITED STATES PRIVATE AN1) TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS INDICATED BY PRICES BROUGHT AT PUBLIC COIN SALES $ EDGAR H. ADAMS Member of American Numismatic Association, American Numismatic Society, New York Numismatic Club, Chicago Numismatic Society, British Numismatic Society THE WILLETT PRESS 5 West 20th Street New York a Copyrighted, 1909 BY Edgar Holmes Adams Information of any kind pertaining to United States coins will be promptly furnished all purchasers of this book by addressing EDGAR H. ADAMS, 40 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Illustrated by Walter E. Blythe New York Index rr'' if* ijJ i-" United States Gold Coins. Page. Dollar 12 Two and a Half Dollars 16 Three Dollars 21 Five Dollars 24 Ten Dollars 30 Twenty Dollars 32 Private Gold Coins. New York — Brasher Doubloon 11 Georgia — Templeton Reid 35 North Carolina — Christopher Bechtler 37 August Bechtler - 40 Oregon — Oregon Exchange Company 42 Utah — Salt Lake City Mint 61 California — Moffat & Co 44 Augustus Humbert 46 United States Assay Office of Gold 48 Baldwin & Co 49 Dubosq & Co 50 Cincinnati Mining & Trading Company 51 Dunbar & Co 52 J. S. Ormsby & Co 52 Kellogg & Co 53 State Assay Office of California 54 Massachusetts & California Company 55 Miner’s Bank 56 Norris, Grieg & Norris 56 Pacific Company 57 Schultz & Co 57 Templeton Reid 58 Wass, Molitor & Co 60 6 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST Colorado — Clark & Co 64 Clark, Gruber & Co 64 John Parsons & Co 67 J. J. Conway & Co 68 United States Gold Pattern Coins. 1836 Gold Dollar 70 1849 Gold Dollar 70 1852 Gold Dollar.. 70 1852 Gold Half Dollar 70 1861 Twenty Dollars 70 1873 Five Dollars 70 1876 Twenty Dollars 70 1877 Fifty Dollars 71 1879 Four Dollars 72 1879 Twenty Dollars 72 1880 Four Dollars 72 Introduction Many very rare gold coins are circulating throughout the United States, unappreciated and passing for only their face value, that would be highly prized by collectors. These coins embrace many of the issues of the United States prior to 1860, with their various mint letters, and also include quite a number of coins issued since 1860. With the regular United States coins there is no reason why a careful watch of all the gold coins in circulation should not result in the uncovering of some of the great rarities that now command the highest premiums. Of the high-priced gold coins, such as the half eagles, or five-dollar gold pieces, of 1815 and 1822, it is not unlikely that there are still somewhere to be found specimens in addition to the dozen or so now known which have brought such tremendous premiums. Of the former date the mint records show that 635 were made, while of those dated 1822 the records state lhat 17,796 were minted. Every trifling variation in the design of a coin, such as a date or mint letter, gives it a particular interest in the estimation of collectors. A collector who devotes his attention to the accumu- lation of the gold pieces is not satisfied that he has a complete representation of every coin issued under United States authority unless his cabinet contains specimens of each denomination, of each year, and bearing the mint letter of every one of the mints. Often the coins of a certain year that were issued at the Phila- delphia mint are of the commonest character, and command but a small premium. On the other hand, during the same year but a limited number of coins of the identical design, with the single variation of the mint letter, may have been issued at one of the branch mints, making each coin of this stamp worth dozens of times its face value. An example of this is shown in the case of the gold dollar of 1854. The Philadelphia issue is worth but little in excess of face value, while the one of the same design and date, but showing in addition the tiny letter “C” for the branch mint located at Char- lotte, N. C., would be worth several hundred dollars. This is also true of the gold dollar dated 1861. The one bearing the latter date, struck at Philadelphia, has brought $5.25, while the same design, but with the letter “D,” for the Dahlonega, Ga., mint, has sold for $280. Scores of others of all denominations will be observed by studying this list. The $2.50 and $5 gold pieces struck after 1860 are not scarce, with but few exceptions, and are usually sold in full proof sets, which embrace all the gold denominations of the year. 8 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST Ten and twenty dollar pieces do not bring much of a premium, as they are sought by only a few collectors. The collectors as a rule value only those ten-dollar gold pieces which were issued from 1795 to 1804, and all such coins are here scheduled. The following premium list represents the prices brought by the various coins whenever offered for sale, and no attempt is made to estimate the value of such coins which have not been publicly offered, even though there are available perfectly authentic records of private sales. There is probably no better way of judging a coin’s value than by consulting the prices brought at auction. Of course, these are not infallible, for peculiar reasons may cause a coin to be bid up to a figure far beyond its real worth. But this occurs only in isolated instances. Taken altogether, the public offering of a coin is nearly always pretty certain to result in the piece being sold at its real value. Therefore, the compiler of this work feels that the majority of the figures stated would be fully realized, if not exceeded, were a coin of similar nature offered at the present time. In a few cases certain coins have not been offered for sale in recent years — perhaps there is only one record of sale available. In such a case the auction price is no criterion of the coin’s real value. Instances of this are shown in the ridiculously low prices brought by the five-dollar gold coins issued in California by Dubosq & Co. and Dunbar & Co. The only record of the sales of these extremely rare coins shows that they respectively brought $6.40 and $6.50 in 1884 and 1890. While these pieces thus brought only a trifle more than face value when last offered for sale, still they are now worth many times as much — how much could be determined only by a public sale. The fact must be borne in mind that these auction prices are subject to the deduction of the coin auctioneer’s commission, which ranges from 15 to 25 per cent., according to the number and value of the coins to be sold. The mint letters have very much to do with the value of the United States gold coins. These are to be found usually on the reverse of the coin. The Philadelphia mint issues bear no mint letter, and by this omission can be distinguished from all the others. The letter “S” indicates the mint located at San Francisco. “C C” indicates the mint located at Carson City, Nev. “O,” New Orleans, La. “C,” Charlotte, N. C. “D,” Dahlonega, Ga. Discontinued in 1861. “D” indicates the Denver mint on coins dated 1906 and afterward. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 0 As condition, or state of preservation, has so much bearing upon the value of a rare coin, that condition is herein mentioned wherever possible. Effort also has been made to show the prices realized by the same coins in varying conditions of preservation, ranging from the state known as “poor” to the “proof” specimen. “Proof” coins, it may be explained, are those which have been struck from planchets, or blank disks of metal that have been highly burnished, in contrast to the ordinary surface of the newly struck coins intended for general circulation. “Uncirculated” is the term applied to the next state of preserva- tion. An uncirculated piece is one that shows absolutely no signs of wear, the design standing out in perfectly sharp relief. A coin may be termed “uncirculated,” and yet have lost its mint lustre, although the latter condition always enhances the value of a coin. “Extremely fine” condition in a coin is that where but the slightest traces of wear from circulation are perceptible, almost verging upon the “uncirculated” class. “Fine” coins are those clearly showing every detail of design, but with a fair amount of wear. The edges may be somewhat worn, or the high relief somewhat reduced, and yet retaining every detail of design. “Good” specimens show portions of the design, inscriptions, and date slightly worn away. Only half of some of the letters may be seen, but enough to indicate the original letters. “Poor” coins show hard usage from circulation or from other causes. An entire inscription or date may be missing, and the surface become smooth in parts from much handling. Such a coin is worth very little to the collector, even when it represents a great rarity, although there have been instances where substantial pre- miums have been paid for poor specimens of extremely rare coins. This list is prepared in as compact form as possible. First is given the date of the coin, with the mint letter, if any. Second, the condition is stated. Third, the name of the person holding the sale, or the owner of the collection. Next, the year of sale, and, last, the amount brought. Every effort has been made to reproduce the various coins in the smallest detail and to give the actual size. However, there may be isolated instances where the reproduction is either larger or smaller than the original coin, owing to engraving difficulties. This book should be particularly useful for reference to all gold coin collectors and those interested in gold coins. It contains much new information in regard to the private gold coinage, which is here presented for the first time to the general public in compact form. 10 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST Quite a number of the illustrations of rare coins are herein repro- duced for the first time. Among these are the $3.50, $5 and $10 pieces of Conway & Co., of Colorado; the $5 and two varieties of ten-dollar pieces of Templeton Reid, of Georgia, the “75G. 20C.” $2.50 piece of Christopher Bechtler, of North Carolina, and the $2.50 and $5 pieces of Parsons & Co., of Colorado. The prices have been taken from the Chapman, Elder, Proskey, Low, Bushnell, Davis, Mills, J. B. and D. S. Wilson, Stickney, Zabriskie, Jewett, and other great sales. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 11 NEW YORK BRASHER DOUBLOON The Brasher doubloon is not usually listed among the private gold coins, although it undoubtedly was struck by a private person, having been made by Ephraim Brasher, a New York jeweler, in 1787. It has about the same intrinsic value as the Spanish doubloon — sixteen dollars — from which fact it derived its title. It is one of the highest priced coins in the world. In 1907 a specimen sold for $6,200. There are two minor varieties — one with Brasher’s stamp, “E B,” on the breast of the eagle, and the other with the stamp on the right wing. There was another Brasher, a brother of Ephraim, who conducted a goldsmithing business in Boston in Colonial days. It was the custom of the brothers to place their private stamp upon certain gold coins, the stamp of the Bostonian being “I B.” Even at the present day specimens of the gold Portuguese “Joe” and “Half Joe,” bearing the stamp of “E B” and “I B,” are occasionally ottered for sale. The New York doubloon is regarded by many as a pattern for a New York cent. Ephraim Brasher had a jewelry store on Cherry Street, New York City, in 1787. In that year he, with several others, appealed to the New York Legislature for permission to strike copper coins that would circulate in New York State, and it is thought he cut the dies of the so-called “doubloon” with which to make samples of his proposed coinage. About a half-dozen speci- mens are known in gold. The petition of Brasher was not granted, and the doubloons are the only records extant to show that such a coinage was contemplated. (“E B” on right wing.) Very fine, Davis sale, 1890 $ 450 Uncirculated, Stickney, 1907 6,200 Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 3,650 (“E B” on breast.) Very fine, Bushnell, 1882 505 12 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST ONE DOLLAR The one-dollar gold piece was authorized by act of March 3, 1849, the coins to have a weight of 25.8 grains and a fineness of 900-1000. The gold dollar was issued continuously from 1849 to 1889, inclusive, in which year it was discontinued. During this period nearly twenty million of these little pieces were coined. The issue of the gold dollar was considered as early as 1836, when a Congressional com- mittee had under advisement a bill which provided for the issue of one, two, three, and four dollar gold pieces. The only immediate outcome of this bill was the production at the United States Mint of a pattern gold dollar of handsome design, showing on one side a radiated Liberty cap. Still another pattern gold dollar was issued in 1849, of engraved design, with a square perforation in the centre. This design was not adopted, but instead was issued the regular gold dollar bearing the head of Liberty, as illustrated below. This first gold dollar was found to be too small for practicable purposes, and so in 1854 an enlarged coin was produced, the chief design of which was the head of an Indian Princess. This second variety contained a greater amount of alloy than the first, but the intrinsic value re- mained the same as that of the original issue. The design of both the 1849 and 1854 gold dollars was the work of James B. Longacre, for years the chief engraver at the mint. 1849. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 $ 2.25 1849d. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 4.25 1845d. Extremely fine, Kuntz, 1908 6.10 1849c. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 2.75 1849c. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 4.25 1849o. Very fine. Smith, 1906 2.50 1849o. Very fine, Kuntz, 1908 2.65 1850. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 2.25 1650. Very fine, Elder, 1908 2.85 1850c. Very fine, Smith, 1906 2.75 1850d. Extremely fine. Smith, 1906 6.50 1850o. Very fine, Smith, 1906 2.75 1851. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.10 1851. Uncirculated, Gschwend, 1908 2.80 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 13 1851c. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 $ 3.75 1851c. Very fine, Kuntz, 1908 2.30 1851d. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 4.25 1851d. Uncirculated, Gschwend, 1908 2.40 1651o. Uncirculated, Smith, 1908 2.25 1851o. Very fine, Eider, 1908 2.30 1852. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.25 1852. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 2.10 1852c. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 3.00 1852d. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 11.00 1852o. Fine, Smith, 1906 3.50 1853. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.10 1853. Fine, Kuntz, 1908 2.20 1853c. Very fine, Smith, 1906 3.00 1853d. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 5.00 1853o. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 2.25 1854. (Liberty head), Smith, 1906 2.20 1854. (Indian head), Kuntz, 1908 2.25 1854c. (According to the mint records, four specimens of the gold dollar were made at the Charlotte mint in 1854, but not a single one of them has ever been located. Such a coin would now be held at a very high premium.) 1854d. Very fine, Smith, 1906 21.00 1854s. Extremely fine. Smith, 1906 15.00 1855. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 3.00 1855. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 2.35 1855c. Fine, Smith, 1906 4.00 1855d. Fine, Elder, 190T 53.00 1855o. Very fine, Smith, 1906 2.25 1856. (Slanting “5”), Uncirculated, Smith 2.75 1856. (Straight “5”), Uncirculated, Stickney, 1907 3.50 1856d. (Straight “5”), very fine, Eavenson, 1903 65.00 1856s. Fine, Eavenson, 1903 3.00 1857. Uncirculated, Eavenson, 1903 2.50 1857. Keel- Johnson, 1908 2.10 1857c. Fine, Eavenson, 1903 4.00 1857d. Very good, Smith, 1906 4.75 14 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1857d. Very fine, Gschwend, 1908 $ 3.00 1857s. Fine, Smith, 190G 3.50 1858. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1900 5.75 1858d. Very fine. Smith, 1906 6.50 1858s. Very good, Smith, 1906 5.75 1859. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.50 1859. Brilliant proof, Elder, 1908 8.00 1859. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.50 1859c. Fine, Smith, 1906 3.75 1859d. Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.50 1859s. Fine, Smith, 1906 4.00 1860. Proof, Elder, 1908 4.30 1860. Brilliant proof, Mehl, 1909 11.50 1860d. Fine, Smith, 1906 38.00 1860d. Fine, Treat, 1905 40.00 1860d. Fine, Elder, 1909 47.50 1860d. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 82.50 1860s. Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.50 1861. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 5.25 1861. Fine, Elder, 1908 2.30 1861d. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 280.00 186 Id. Fine, Elder, 1909 230.00 1862. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 5.75 1862. About fine, Elder, 1908 2.30 1863. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 30.00 1863. Brilliant proof, Lockwood, 1905 40.00 1864. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 27.50 1864. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 46.00 1865. Uncirculated, 1906 20.00 1865. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 34.00 1866. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 10.00 1866. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 14.00 1867. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 7.75 1868. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 9.00 1869. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 13.00 1870. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 9.00 1870. Fine, Kuntz, 1908 4.00 1870s. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 70.00 1870s. Proof, Green, 1907 135.00 1870s. Uncirculated, Wilcox, 1901 105.00 1871. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 10.00 1872. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 10.00 1873. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 4.75 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 15 1874. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 $ 2.25 1874. Fine, Elder, 1908 2.10 1875. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 51.00 1875. Proof, Lockwood, 1905 60.00 1876. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 5.00 1877. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 4.75 1878. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 4.50 1879. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.25 1880. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 8.00 1880. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 6.00 1881. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 2.50 1882. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 3.50 1883. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 2.25 1884. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 2.50 1885. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 2.50 1885. Brilliant proof, Kuntz, 1908 3.10 1886. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 2.50 1887. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 2.50 1887. Brilliant proof, Kuntz, 1908 2.60 1888. Brilliant proof. Smith, 1906 2.50 1888. Brilliant proof, Kuntz, 1908 2.25 1889. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 2.50 1889. Uncirculated, Kuntz, 1908 2.30 16 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF The $2.50 piece, or quarter eagle, was authorized by act of April 2, 1792, with a weight of 67.5 grains and a fineness of 916 2/3-1000. The weight was changed to 64.5 grains by act of June 28, 1834, and the fineness reduced to 899.225. By act of January 18, 1837, the fineness was increased to .900. Although authorized in 1792, still the quarter eagle was not issued until 1796. It was produced at the mint in 1797, 1798, 1802, 1804-1808; 1821, 1824-1827, 1829 to date. 1796. 1796. (No stars.) Fine, Smith, 1906... $ 22.50 (No stars.) Uncirculated, Jewett, 1909 105.00 1796. (Sixteen stars.) 1796. (Sixteen stars.) Very fine, Smith, 1906 Steigerwalt, 1907 62.50 117.50 1797. Stickney, 1907 200.00 1798. Fine, plain edge, Stickney, 1907 31.00 1802. (Over ’01.) Very fine, Stickney 10.00 1802. (Thirteen stars.) Uncirculated, Jewett, 1909 80.00 1804. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 23.00 1804. Very fine, Elder, 1908 14.50 1805. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 16.00 1806. (Over ’04.) Very fine, Stickney, 1907 43.00 1806. (Over ’05.) Uncirculated, Steigerwalt 200.00 1807. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 8.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 17 1808. 1821. 1824. 1825. 1826. 1826. 1827. 1829. 1830. 1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1834. 1835. 1835. 1836. 1836. 1837. 1838. 1838. 1838c. 1839. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 $10.00 Very fine, Stickney, 1907 30.00 (Over ’21.) Very fine, Stickney 23.00 Very fine, Stickney, 1907 15.00 (Over ’25.) Very fine, Smith, 1906 170.00 (Over ’25.) Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 75.00 Very fine, Stickney, 1907 39.00 Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 13.00 Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 11.00 Brilliant proof, Stickney, 1907 31.00 Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 11.00 Very fine, Stickney, 1907 11.00 (With motto.) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 320.00 (Without motto.) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 3.25 Extremely fine, Appleton, 1907 4.25 Extremely fine, Gsehwend, 1908 2.80 Very fine, Kuntz, 1908 2.50 Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 4.25 Very fine, Appleton, 1907 10.50 Very good, Kuntz, 1908 2.50 Fine, Appleton, 1907 3.50 Very fine, Eavenson, 1903 4.40 Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 9.00 IS ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1839c. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 $ 3.00 1839d. Extremely fine, Kuntz, 1908 3.50 1839d. Very fine, Smith, 1906 5.75 1839o. Extremely fine, Appleton, 1907 3.00 1840. Very good, Kuntz, 1908 2.50 1840c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1840n. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1840o. Fine, Davis, 1890 3.60 1840o. Fine, Appleton, 1907 5.00 1841. (Only two of these coins are known to be in existence. One is owned by a private collector in Connecticut, and the other specimen is in the United States Mint collection at Philadelphia. The mint records, how- ever, do not mention the issue of a quarter eagle in this year at the parent mint.) 1841c. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 7.00 1841d. Fine, Elder, 1907 13.25 1841o. No record available of public sale. 1842. Fine, Taylor-Windle, 1908 155.00 1842c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.25 1842d. Fine, Davis, 1890 3.10 1842o. Extremely fine, Kuntz, 1908 4.00 1842o. Fine, Appleton, 1907 4.75 1843. Fine, Appleton, 1907 3.25 1843c. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 4.75 1843d. (Small date.) Very fine, Appleton 4.75 1843d. (Small date.) Very fine, Gschwend 3.00 1843o. (Small date.) Fine, Appleton, 1907 3.00 1843o. (Small date.) Very good, Kuntz, 1908 2.50 1844. Extremely fine, Appleton, 1907 18.00 1844c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.00 1844c. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 3.25 1844d. Very fine, Kuntz, 1908 2.50 1844d. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 6.70 1845. Very fine, Kuntz, 1908 2.50 1845. Fine, Appleton, 1907 4.25 1845o. (The mint records do not mention this variety of quar- ter eagle, but nevertheless several specimens are known to be in existence. There is no record of public sale.) 1845d. Fine, Appleton, 1907....- 6.00 1846. Extremely fine, Appleton, 1907 5.25 1846c. Fine, Appleton, 1907 6.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 19 1846d. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 $11.00 1846o. (Over 1843.) Fine, Stickney, 1907 10.00 1847. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1847c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1847d. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 12.00 1847o. Fine, Appleton, 1907 6.75 1848. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.00 1848. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 6.75 1848c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.00 1848. (“Cal.”) Semi-proof, Zabriskie, 1909 85.00 1848d. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907... 8.00 1848d. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 4.00 1849. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.00 1849c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 10.00 1849d. Extremely fine, Appleton, 1907 12.00 1850. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 3.00 1850c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1850d. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.50 1850o. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.75 1851. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 2.60 1851c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.50’ 1851c. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 3.00 1851d. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 9.00 1851o. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 5.00 1852. Extremely fine. Smith, 1906 4.50 1852c. Fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1852d. Extremely fine, Appleton, 1907 60.00 1852o. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 3.50 1853. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 3.25 1853d. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 50.00 1854. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 2.75 1854c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 7.50 1854d. No record of public sale. 1854o. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 4.00 1854s. No record of public sale. 1855. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1855c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 3.00 1855d. No record of public sale. 1856. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 8.00 1856c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 8.00 1856d. No record of public sale. 1856o. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 6.50 1856s. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 7.00 1857. Very fine. Smith, 1906 3.25 20 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1857d. No record of public sale. 1857o. Very fine, Smith, 1906 $ 4.00 1857s. Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 36.00 1858. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 3.50 1858c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 9.00 1858s. No record of public sale. 1859. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 4.00 1859d. No record of public sale. 1859s. No record of public sale. 1860. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 6.50 1860c. Very fine, Appleton, 1907 12.50 1860s. Fine, Appleton, 1907 7.00 1863. (Only thirty coined.) Brilliant proof, Maris, 1886.... 5.40 1863. Mills, 1904 55.00 1865. (1,545 coined.) Dull proof, Mills, 1904 17.50 1867. (3,250 coined.) Very fine, Appleton, 1907 38.00 1875. (420 coined.) Brilliant proof, Appleton, 1907 45.00 1877. (1,652 coined.) Uncirculated, Appleton, 1907 10.00 1881. (680 coined.) Brilliant proof, Stickney, 1907 4.50 1885. (887 coined.) Brilliant proof, Stickney, 1907 5.25 Very few of the quarter eagles other than those here mentioned command a premium worth mentioning. Even the latest of the quarter eagles, dated 1908 and 1909, of the new design, known as the Bigelow-Pratt pieces, made at the suggestion of Dr. William S. Bige- low, after the design of Bela L. Pratt, the sculptor and medalist, both of Boston, are worth no more than face value. $2.50. 1909. Pratt-Bigelow design. No premium. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 21 THREE DOLLARS The three dollar piece was authorized by act of February 21, 1853, to have a weight of 77.4 grains and a fineness of .900. The coin was issued continuously from 1854 to 1889, inclusive, and dis- continued during the latter year. The general design of this coin was the same during all the years of its issue, bearing on the obverse a representation of the head of Liberty, upon which is a head- dress of feathers. Like the gold dollar, the design of this coin was the work of Mr. Longacre. 1854. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 $ 7.00 1854. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 4.50 1854d. Very good, Smith, 1906. 22.50 1854d. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 10.00 1854o. Very good, Smith, 1906 4.00 1854o. Very good, Wilcox, 1901 4.00 1855. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 4.00 1855. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 4.50 1855s. Fine, Smith, 1906 6.25 1855s. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 7.25 1856. Very fine, Smith, 1906 4.50 1856. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 5.25 1856s. Very good. Smith, 1906 4.00 1856s. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 5.75 1857. Very fine, Smith, 1906 4.50 1857. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 5.00 1857s. Very fine, Smith, 1906 5.50 1857s. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 4.50 1858. Very fine, Smith, 1906 8.00 1858. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 10.00 1859. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 5.50 1859. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 5.25 1860. Extremely fine, Stickncy, 1907 6.00 1860. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 5.00 1860s. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 11.00 22 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1860s. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 $ 4.35 1861. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 4.50 1861. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 17.00 1862. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 6.50 1862. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 17.00 1863. Very fine, Smith, 1906 5.00 1863. Uncirculated, Wilcox, 1901 10.50 1864. Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.00 1864. Brilliant proof, W'ilcox, 1901 17.50 1865. Very fine, Smith, 1906 10.00 1865. Brilliant proof, Leeds, 1906 32.00 1865. Brilliant proof, Jewett, 1909 41.00 1866. Very fine, Smith, 1906 5.00 1866. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 9.00 1867. Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.50 1867. Proof, Wilcox, 1901 21.00 1867. Brilliant proof, Jewett, 1909 33.00 1868. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 5.50 1868. Uncirculated, Wilcox, 1901..- 6.50 1869. Very fine, Smith, 1906 5.50 1869. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 15.00 1870. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 15.00 1870. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 8.00 1870s. Only one specimen of this coin is known, this being now in the possession of a well-known New York col- lector. It is said that the dies were used by a coiner of the San Francisco mint to strike two specimens in 1870. One of these was placed in the cornerstone of a public building of that city. The mint records do not mention the issue of a coin of this denomina- tion and letter. 1871. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 8.00 1871. Uncirculated, Jewett, 1909 12.00 1871. Semi-proof, Wilcox, 1901 6.50 1872. Semi-proof, Stickney, 1907 10.00 1872. Semi-proof, Wilcox, 1901 9.75 1873. Fine, Smith, 1906 45.00 1873. Proof, Wilcox, 1901 43.00 1873. Brilliant proof, Jewett, 1909 132.00 1874. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 3.75 1874. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 15.00 1875. Proof, Davis, 1890 55.00 1875. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 210.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 23 1875. Brilliant proof, Jewett, 1909 $440.00 1876. Brilliant proof. Smith, 1900 95.00 1876. Brilliant proof, Steigerwalt, 1907 135.00 1877. Very fine, Smith, 1906 31.00 1877. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 20.00 1877. Extremely fine, Jewett, 1909 85.00 1878. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 4.00 1878. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 5.00 1879. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 3.75 1879. Proof, Wilcox, 1901 5.50 1880. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 4.50 1880. Uncirculated, Wilcox, 1901 5.50 1881. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 11.00 1881. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 10.00 1882. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 11.00 1882. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 6.00 1883. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 5.00 1883. Uncirculated, Wilcox, 1901 6.00 1884. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 6.50 1884. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 5.75 1885. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 7.00 1885. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 9.10 1886. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 8.00 1886. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 5.00 1887. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 6.75 1887. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 4.25 1888. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 6.25 1888. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 5.25 1889. Brilliant proof, Smith, 1906 5.00 1889. Brilliant proof, Wilcox, 1901 6.25 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 24 FIVE DOLLARS The five-dollar piece, or “half eagle,” was authorized by act of April 2, 1792, with a weight of 135 grains and a fineness of .916 2-3. The weight was reduced to 129 grains by act of June 28, 1834, and the fineness lowered to .899.225. The fineness was increased to .900 by act of January 18, 1837. The half eagle has been issued con- tinuously from 1795 up to the present year with the exception of 1801, 1816 and 1817. It is not known definitely who were the de- signers of the five-dollar pieces which have been issued. The great- est change in design occurred in 1908, when the original design of the head of an Indian chief was adopted, the reverse design showing the principal device of an eagle fashioned after the style borne by the ancient Ptolemaic coins of Egypt. The 1908 half eagles are exactly like the quarter eagles, though of course slightly differing as to value and denomination. 1795. (Pleraldic eagle.) Very fine, Smith 95.00 1796. (Over ’95.) Extremely fine, Stickney 35.00 1797. (Over ’95.) Very fine, Smith, 1906 160.00 1797. (Fifteen stars.) Very good, Smith 160.00 1797. (Sixteen stars.) Very fine, Stickney 250.00 1798. (Large date.) Very fine, Elder, 1907 22.00 1798. (Small date.) Extremely fine, Wilson 14.00 U. S.. PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 25 1798. (Small eagle.) Ely, 1888 $ 51.00 Only two known. One in the collection of a well- known Philadelphian and the other in the mint collection at Philadelphia. 1799. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 23.00 1800. Very fine, Wilson, 1807 8.00 1802. (Over ’01.) Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 10.00 1802. (Over ’01.) Fine, Wilson, 1908 10.50 1803. (Over ’02.) Uncirculated, Stickney 10.50 1803. (Over ’02.) Uncirculated, Wilson, 1908 12.25 1804. (Large “8.”) Good, Scott, 40th sale 6.00 1804. (Small “8.”) Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.00 1805. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 8.00 1805. Fine, Elder, 1908 6.90 1806. (Pointed “6.”) Very good, Stickney, 1907 6.50 1806. (Round “6.”) Very good, Stickney, 1907 7.50 1807. (Bust facing right.) Very fine, Wilson 8.00 1807. (Bust facing right.) Elder, 1908 6.60 1807. (Bust facing left.) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907.. 8.00 1808. (Over ’07.) Very good, Stickney, 1907 8.50 1808. (Over ’07.) Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 12.00 1809. (Over ’08.) Extremely fine, Stickney 7.50 1809. (Over ’08.) Very fine, Elder, 1908 7.50 1810. (Large date.) Extremely fine, Stickney 7.50 1810. (Large date.) Fine, Elder, 1908 6.20 1810. (Small date.) Good, Stickney, 1907 5.75 1810. (Small dcite.) Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 9.50 1811. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 6.50 1811. Very fine, Elder, 1908 6.75 1812. Uncirculated, Stickney, 1907 8.00 1812. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 8.25 1813. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 8.00 1813. Very fine. Elder, 1908 7.50 1814. (Over ’13.) Very fine, Stickney, 1907 15.00 26 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1815. Extremely fine, Stickney, 190T $2,000.00 1815. Very fair, Jenks, 1883 52.00 1815. Very fine, Adams, 1876 150.00 1818. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 20.00 1819. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 550.00 1819. Fine, Low, 1907 650.00 1819. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 560.00 1820. (Curled “2.”) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 30.00 1820. (Square “2.”) Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 34.00 1820. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 18.00 1821. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 300.00 1821. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 200.00 1821. Perfect, Jewett, 1909 275.00 1822. Very fine, Smith, 1906 2,165.00 1823. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 21.00 1823. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 16.00 1824. Very fine, Smith, 1906 120.00 1824. Very fine, Jewett, 1909 165.00 1825. (Over ’21.) Very fine, Smith, 1906 70.00 1825. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 100.00 1826. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 35.00 1826. Uncirculated, Stickney, 1907 60.00 1827. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 260.00 1827. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 350.00 1828. (Over J 27.) Extremely fine, Wilson 240.00 1829. (Large date.) Uncirculated, Wilson 240.00 1829. (Small date.) Extremely fine, Wilson 210.00 1829. (Small date.) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 360.00 1830. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 35.00 1830. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 31.00 1831. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 60.00 1831. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 40.00 1831. Very fine, Jewett, 1909 60.00 1832. Very fine, Smith, 1907 230.00 1832. Extremely fine, Steigerwalt, 1907 310.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 27 1833. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 $37.00 1833. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 41.00 1833. Extremely fine, Jewett, 1909 50.00 1834. (With motto.) Extremely fine, Smith 36.00 1834. (With motto.) Extremely fine, Wilcox 40.50 1834. (Without motto.) Proof, Stickney, 1907 10.00 1834. (Without motto.) Very fine, Stickney, 1907 5.25 1835. (Small letters.) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 5.75 1835. (Large letters.) Very fine, Stickney 6.00 1836. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 5.50 1837. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 7.50 1837. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 7.50 1838. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 15.00 1838c. No record of public sale. 1838d. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 11.00 1839. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 16.00 1839c. Very good, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1839c. Fine, Wilson, 1907 7.50 1839d. Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.00 1840. Fine, Wilson, 1907 7.50 1840c. Fine, Wilson, 1907 19.00 1840d. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 11.00 1840o. No record of public sale. 1841. No record of public sale. 1841c. Fine, Stickney, 1907 8.75 1841c. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 21.00 1841d. Fine, Wilson, 1907 10.00 1841o. No record of public sale. 1842. Fine, Wilson, 1907 8.50 1842c. Fine, Wilson, 1907 7.50 1842d. Fine, Elder, 1907 6.00 1842o. No record of public sale. 1843. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 8.50 1843c. No record of public sale. 1843d. Fine, Stickney, 1907 * 10.00 1843d. Fine, Elder, 1908 5.60 1843o. No record of public sale. 1844. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 12.00 1844c. No record of public sale. 1844d. Very good, Du Puy, 1907 5.00 1844o. (Small stars.) Very fine, Stickney 8.00 I844o. (Large stars.) Fine, Stickney, 1907 5.25 1845. Fine, Wilson, 1907 7.50 28 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1845d. Extremely fine, Kuntz, 1908 $ 6.10 1845d. Fine, Appleton, 1907 6.60 1845o. Very good, Mehl, 1909 5.50 1846. Fine, Wilson, 1907 . 6.00 1846c. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 13.50 1846d. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 12.00 1846o. No record of public sale. 1847. Extremely fine, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1847. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 10.00 1847c. Very good, Wilson, 1907 8.50 1847n. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 8.00 1847o. No record of public sale. 1848. Very fine, Smith, 1906 7.50 1848c. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 9.00 1848d. Fine, Stickney, 1907 6.25 1849. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 8.00 1849c. Very good, Stickney, 1907 6.25 1849c. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 8.50 1849d. No record of public sale. 1850. Good, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1850. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 10.00 1850c. About fine, Low, 1904 5.75 1850d. Fine, Wilson, 1907 9.00 1851. Extremely fine, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1851. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 7.00 1851c. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 9.50 1851d. No record of public sale. 1851o. No record of public sale. 1852. Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 7.50 1852c. Very good, Stickney, 1907 5.50 1852d. Good, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1852d. Fine, Wilson, 1907 6.50 1853. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 7.50 1853c. Fine, Wilson, 1907 6.50 1853d. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 6.00 1854. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 11.00 1854c. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 9.00 1854d. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 11.00 1854o. No record of public sale. 1854s. No record of public sale. 1855. Fine, Wilson, 1907 8.00 1855c. Fine, Stickney, 1907 8.00 1855d. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 9.00 U. s.. PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 29 1855o. No record of public sale. 1855s. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 $ 8.50 1856. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 10.00 1856c. No record of public sale. 1856d. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 11.00 1856o. No record of public sale. 1856s. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 9.00 1857. No record of public sale. 1857c. Fine, Stickney, 1907 9.00 1857d. No record of public sale. 1857o. No record of public sale. 1857s. Fine, Wilson, 1907 7.50 1858. Brilliant proof, Steigerwalt, 1907 45.00 1858c. Fine, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1858d. No record of public sale. 1858s. No record of public sale. 1859. No record uf public sale. 1859c. Very good, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1859c. Wilson, 1907 8.00 1859d. Uncirculated, Stickney, 1907 24.00 1859s. No record of public sale. 1860. Fine, Kuntz, 1908 5.00 1860. Proof, Smith, 1906 13.00 1860c. Good, Stickney, 1907 9.00 1860c. Very good, Taylor- Windle, 1908 7.00 1860d. Extremely fine, Wilson, 1907 14.00 1860d. About fine, Low, 1904 5.00 1860s. Extremely fine, Taylor- Windle, 1908 14.50 1861c. Very fine, Wilson, 1907 13.00 1861d. No record of sale. 1862. Proof, Smith, 1906 21.00 1863. Proof, Maris, 1886 7.50 1863s. Fine, Elder, 1907 11.00 1864. Fine, Elder, 1907 7.50 1865. Brilliant proof, Wilson, 1907 29.00 1866. Proof, Smith, 1906 25.00 1909. Bigelow-Pratt. No premium. 30 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST TEN DOLLARS The ten-dollar gold piece, officially known as the “eagle,” was authorized to he coined by act of Congress dated April 2, 1792. It was to have a weight of 270 grains, a fineness of .916 2-3. The weight was changed by act. of June 28, 1834, to 258 grains and the fineness reduced to .899.225. This fineness was increased to .900 by act of January 18, 1837. With the exception of 1802, and from 1805 to 1837, inclusive, the eagle has been issued each year since 1795. 1795. Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 $32.00 1795. Fine, Gschwend, 1908 21.00 1796. Extremely fine, Smith, 1906 32.50 1796. Very fine, Elder, 1908 24.00 1797. (Eagle with olive branch.) Very fine, Elder, 1908 50.00 1797. (Heraldic eagle.) Uncirculated, Wilson, 1907 30.00 1797. (Heraldic eagle.) Very fine, Elder, 1908 15.25 1798. (Over ’97; thirteen stars.) Fine, Wilson, 1907 70.00 1798. (Over ’97; thirteen stars.) Very fine, Jewett, 1909. . . 120.00 1798. (Fifteen stars.) Very fine, Mills, 1904 66.00 1798. (Over ’97 ; sixteen stars.) 1799. (Large stars.) Very fine, Stickney 15.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 31 1799. (Small stars.) Extremely fine, Stiekney $ 19.00 1800. Very fine, Stiekney, 1907 15.50 1801. Uncirculated, Stiekney, 1907 20.00 1801. Fine, Elder, 1908 13.25 1803. (Small stars.) Extremely fine, Stiekney, 1907 25.00 1803. (Large stars.) Fine, Elder, 1908 20.00 1804. Fine, Mehl, 1909 80.00 1804. Very fine, Elder, 1908 25.50 1804. Very fine, Jewett, 1909 41.00 1838. Extremely fine, Wilson 32.00 1838. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 22.00 This design was the work of Engraver William Kneass, and, with the exception of the addition of the motto, “In God We Trust,” in 1866, the same t} r pe was continued until 1907, when it was succeeded by the new design of Augustus St. Gaudens. Very few of the ten-dollar pieces issued after 1804 bear a premium. None of these coins was issued from 1804 until 1838. Nearly all the eagles issued from 1838 up to 1907 are omitted, bearing as a rule such small premiums if any, that mention of them is scarcely worth while. 1858. Brilliant proof, Jewett, 1909 102.50 1907. Wire edge variety. Uncirculated, Elder, 1907 40.00 1907. Wire edge variety, Mehl, 1909 35.00 1907. With flat border, and with periods at either side of the motto “E Pluribus Unum,” Chapman, 1909 35.00 1907. With wider border, periods omitted. Type issued for general circulation, Chapman, 1908 10.50 32 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST TWENTY DOLLARS The twenty-dollar gold piece, or “double eagle,” was authorized by act of Congress dated March 3, 1849. The coin was to have a weight of 516 grains and a fineness of .900. It was issued continu- ously from 1849 up to the present time. James B. Longacre was the designer, and with but few alterations the type was continued to 1907, when it was superseded by the St. Gaudens design. Not many of the double eagles command a premium, for the reason that there are only a few collectors who gather the denomination. Nevertheless, this series embraces what is regarded as one of the highest valued coins in the world — the double eagle of 1849, of which only a single speci- men was made in gold. This piece is now on exhibition at the Phila- delphia mint. One collector is credited with having offered the Government authorities $75,000 for the rare coin, but of course with- out avail. It was not until late in 1849 that the die was completed for the coin, and before arrangements were made for striking double eagles for circulation the year 1850 came in. Consequently a new die had to be made. The 1850 double eagle is very nearly like that of 1849. The only alteration was to lower the relief of the cheek of Liberty, which stands out prominently on the 1849 piece. There are a few varieties of the St. Gaudens double eagle which command a premium. These are herewith mentioned. $20. St. Gaudens. 1907. Wire edge, Chapman, 1908 $35.00 $20. 1907. Smooth edge, Chapman, 1908 30.00 $20. 1907. Similar, but in lower relief. The one issued for general circulation, Chapman, 1908 20.50 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 33 PRIVATE GOLD COINS 1830—1861 Issued in Georgia, North Carolina, Utah, Oregon, California and Colorado P RIVATE gold coins are those which have been struck in various sections of the United States, from 1830 to 1861, to supply a suitable currency of definite values at times when there existed a lack of the regular United States coins. Owing to a curious loophole in the laws of the United States, private individuals for many years were permitted to issue gold coins that circulated freely as money, although the laws expressly forbade any State to issue coins bearing its own stamp. Private gold coins first were issued in 1830 by Templeton Reid, an assayer, who did business near the gold mines of Lumpkin County, Georgia. Mr. Reid was followed by Christopher Bechtler, who some lime in 1831 began the issue of coins bearing his private stamp at Rutherford ton, N, C. Then when the gold discoveries were made in California in 1848 the necessity for an adequate circulating medium in place of gold dust resulted in private gold pieces making their appearance in 1849 almost simultaneously in California, Utah, and Oregon. In 1860 similar gold coins were again made in Colorado during the Pike’s Peak gold excitement, and it was in Denver, in 1861, that the last of the private gold coins was issued. A law was passed on June 4, 1864, forbidding the issue of such coins by private indi- viduals. Numerous varieties of the private issues differ in design from the regular United States coins only in trifling minor details that would escape the attention of the casual observer. While some of these coins are of original and striking design, still, as the issue of such pieces became more general, the engravers grew bolder, and, notwithstanding the law’s express stipulation that no coin should be made in similitude of the regular issues, they turned out $2.50, $5, .$10 and $20 gold pieces almost exact in their reproduction of the chief designs of the obverse and reverse of the United States coins, ADAMS' OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 3-1 differing only on the obverse with the name of the firm of issue in small letters on the coronet of Liberty, where the word “Liberty” is borne by the pieces of regular issue. On the reverse the only differ- ence lay in the inscription around the border, the remainder of the design being the same as that on the Government coin. There is little doubt that many coins of this description are still passing from hand to hand, as millions of dollars’ worth were made. Occasionally specimens come to light in consignments of gold or in payments to bankers. A well-known banking firm of New York just a short time ago found a twenty-dollar piece of Wass, Molitor & Co., of San Francisco, dated 1855, in a consignment of gold from Colom- bia. This coin realized $500 at an auction a few weeks later. A short time before that a Chicago bank found, a twenty-dollar gold piece of Clark, Gruber & Co., of Denver, dated 1861, in a consignment of gold coins. One of these pieces has brought $300. There are many other rarities-, differing very little from the United States coin, that will be rare prizes for the person who comes across them. The discovery of such a coin as the five-dollar piece of Dunbar & Co. or Dubosq & Co., both issued in San Francisco, and almost exactly like the United States five-dollar piece, will return the finder a reward that will amply repay him for a great deal of time spent in scrutinizing such gold coins that may come into his possession. That valuable gold coins from time to time are being remelted owing to ignorance as to their real value was confirmed by the fact that in 1908 a lot of the Bechtler gold pieces, of a bullion value of $600, was received at the New York Assay Office, and, no one there Inning any idea of their value to collectors, the whole lot was con- signed to the melting pot. What that lot of coins was really worth can of course only be conjectured, but when one considers that $785 was recently paid for a certain variety of the Bechtler five-dollar gold piece the possibilities of the remelted lot of coins can be approxi- mately estimated. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 35 GEORGIA TEMPLETON REID, Lumpkin County, Ga. 1830. The coins struck in Georgia consisted of three denominations — $2.50, $5, and $10. All of these were issued by Templeton Reid, who operated a private minting establishment near the gold mines of Lumpkin County, Ga. It is not known how long this money- making plant existed, but the first of the coins bearing this stamp is dated 1830. They represent the first private gold coins to be issued in the United States to pass as money. The $2.50 piece weighed 60.5 grains, of a fineness of .932, with an intrinsic value of $2.43, while the ten- dollar piece, of which there were two varieties, weighed 248 grains, of a fineness of .942, and had an intrinsic value of $10.06 to $10 15. The Georgia coins of Templeton Reid contained gold of a higher standard of fineness than any other gold coins ever issued in this country, without excepting those of the Government. The purest gold used by the United States in its issues was in the gold pieces issued prior to 1834, the fineness of which was .916 2-3. In 1834 this was changed to .899.225, and in 1837 made .900, which latter fine- ness has been the standard ever since. The fact that Reid’s ten- dollar pieces were worth so much more than their face value no doubt caused the great majority of the coins to be remelted, which accounts for their present scarcity. All of the coins issued by this assayer are very rare, particularly the five and ten-dollar pieces. There are only two known specimens of the five-dollar piece. One of these is in the mint at Philadelphia and the other is owned by a well-known Chicago collector. There is only one known specimen of the ten-dollar gold piece with date, this being owned also by the Chicago collector. Through the kindness of this gentleman we are permitted to place before the general public a reproduction of this rare coin for the first time. Of the ten-dollar piece without date there are but two known specimens — one in the mint and the second in the possession of the same Chicago collector. TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF 36 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 1830. Barely circulated, Scott, 26th sale, 1885 $19.25 1830. Very fine, Elder, 1908 335.00 1830. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 280.00 FIVE DOLLARS 1830. About fine, Low, 1905 TEN DOLLARS (1830.) (Without date.) No record of sale. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 37 NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTOPHER BECHTLER Rutlierfordton, N. C. 1831-1842. The private mint of Christopher Bechtler was located at Ruther- fordton, Rutherford County, N. C. The first of these coins, although not dated, are supposed to have been issued early in 1831. Chris- topher Bechtler transferred his mint to his son, August Bechtler, some time in the early forties. The coins issued by the latter bear the name of “A. BECHTLER.” The inscriptions of “Carolina,” “North Carolina,” and “Georgia” were placed on the Bechtler coins to indicate the quality of the gold. The lowest grade of gold was 20 carats, the coins containing which are stamped “North Carolina Gold.” The coins of the next grade, 21 carats, are stamped “Caro- lina,” while those of 22 carats fineness bear the stamp of “Georgia.” Intrinsically the dollar pieces had a value of 94 cents, the $2.50 pieces averaged about $2.43, and the five-dollar pieces about $4.86. The coins of the Bechtlers are now much sought by collectors, who pay high premiums for certain varieties. They are now quite scarce, notwithstanding the number that, according to Mr. Bechtler’s books, were originally issued. He stated that from January, 1831, to Feb- ruary, 1840, he had coined a total of $2,241,840.50 in gold pieces, his gold averaging 80 cents to the pennyweight. $1. (“Carolina 28 G.”) Extremely fine, Elder, 1907 $ 8.00 $1. (“Carolina 28 G”) Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 5.50 $1. (“North Carolina 28G.”) Very good, Wetmore, 1906... 4.40 $1. (“North Carolina 28G.”) Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909, “28G” in centre 18.00 $1. (“North Carolina 30G.”) Fine, Stickney, 1907 15.00 $1. (“North Carolina 30G”) Very fine, Proskey, 1903 10.50 $1. (“North Carolina 30G.”) Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 12.00 $1. (“North Carolina 30G”) Fine, Jewett, 1909 13.00 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 3 8 $2.50 $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. $2.50. (“Carolina 67 G. 21C.”) Extremely fine, Elder, 1908. .$ 75.00 Do. Very fine, Elder, 1908. . 50.00 Do. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 43.00 (“Carolina 70G. 20C.”) Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901. 16.75 Do. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 135.00 (“Georgia 64G. 22C.”) Very Fine, Elder, 1907.... 105.00 Do. Very fine, Elder, 11th sale 170.00 Do. Gschwend, 1908 135.00 Do. Wilcox, 1901 16.50 Do. Fine, Brown, 1904 21.00 Do. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 63.00 (“North Carolina 75G. 20C.”) Very fine, Stickney, 1907 230.00 Do. Uncirculated, Zabriskie, 1909 400.00 (“North Carolina, 250, 20C.“) C. Bechtler, As- sayer, Rutherford. Fine, Elder, 1908 Do. Extremely fine, Morris, 1905 Do. Very fine, Elder, 1907 Do. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 85.00 100.00 300.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 39 $2.50. (“North Carolina, Assayer, ‘20C’ on obverse and ’75G’ on reverse.”) There is no record of the public sale of this piece, which can be regarded as the rarest of the $2.50 pieces issued by the Bechtler mint. The only known specimen is owned by a well-known Chi- cago collector. $5. (“Carolina 140G. 20C. RUTHERF”) No record of public sale. $5. (“Carolina I40G. 20C. RUTHERFORD.”) Fine, Elder, 1907 $33.00 $5. Fine, Brown, 1904 40.00 $5. Do. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 14.00 $5. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 54.00 $5. Do. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 .... 31.00 $5. (“Carolina 134G. 21C. RUTHEIL 1907 $5. Do. Very fine, Chapman, 1908 $5. Do. Fine, Bushnell, 1889 $5. Do. Proskev, 1903 $5. Do. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 $5. (“North Carolina 150G. 20C.”) Extremely fine, Zabris- kie, 1909 . 420.00 40 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $5. Very fine, Bushnell, 1882 $ 5.40 $5. Do. Uncirculated, Frossard, 1884 6.60 $5. Do. Very fine, Elder, 1908 785.00 $5. Do. Fair, Elder, 1909 55.00 $5. Do. Fine, Mehl, 1909 675.00 $5. (“Georgia 128G. 22C. RUTHERFORD.”) No record of public sale. $5. (“Georgia 128G. 22C. RUTHERF”) Fine, Elder, 1907 85.00 $5. Do. Extremely fine, Chapman, 1908 70.00 $5. Do. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 18.00 $5. Do. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 59.00 AUGUST BEC11TLER. 1842-1852. $1. (“Carolina 27G. 21C”) Fine, Elder, 1907 2.90 $1. Do. Very fine, Elder, 1908 3.50 $1. Do. Extremely fine. Chapman, 1908 5.25 $1. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 2.75 $1. Do. Uncirculated, Mehl, 1909 6.50 $5. (“Carolina 128G. 22C.”) Very good, Proskey, 1903.... 11.50 $5. (“Carolina 134G. 21C”) Fine, Elder, 1907 32.00 $5. Do. Fine, Brown, 1904 25.00 $5. Do. Very fine, Bushnell, 1889 5.25 $5. Do. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 24.00 $5. Do. Very fine, Jewett, 1909 30.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 41 $5. (“Carolina 141G. 20C.”) Fine, Stickney, 1907 $ 24. $5. Do. Fine, Bushnell, 1889 6. $5. Do. Good, Humbert, 1902 14. $5. Do. Very good, Elder, 1907 26. $5. Do. Zabriskie, 1909 90. 00 50 50 25 00 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST 42 OREGON OREGON EXCHANGE COMPANY Oregon City. 1849. Early in 1849 need for gold coins developed in Oregon Territory to replace gold dust, which at that time was the only circulating medium. An attempt was made by the provincial government to es- tablish a mint. This failed, and a private organization, the Oregon Exchange Company, made arrangements to strike gold coins of the denominations of $5 and $10. This company was composed of Will- iam K. Kilburne, Theophilus Magiuder, James Taylor, George Aber- nethy, William H. Wilson, William H. Rector, James Gill, H. Camp- bell and Noys Smith. The mint was erected at Oregon City, a blacksmith, Thomas Powell, making the necessary coining apparatus. Hamilton Camp- bell engraved the dies. The initials on the five-dollar piece represent the first letter of the family name of each member of the company, although the letter “G” is an error on the part of the engraver, the letter “C” being intended. Another error was the reversal of the letters for Oregon Territory, these appearing “T O” on the five- dollar piece. This error was corrected when the dies for the ten- doilar piece were made. The five-dollar piece weighed 127 y z grains, of a fineness of .878, with an intrinsic value of $4.62, but had a value of a couple of cents more >f enough coins were remelted at one time to allow for the cost of separating the silver. The five-dollar piece was made with plain and reeded edge, and 6,000 pieces altogether are said to have been minted. T he ten-dollar piece was of a later design, and of more finished appearance than the first mentioned piece. This coin weighed 10 pennyweights and 20 grains, or 260 grains. All the pieces known have a reeded edge. It is said that 2,850 ten-dollar pieces were originally coined, although this denomination is now very rare. $5. 1849. Very good, Stickney, 1907 $ 85.00 U. S.> PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 43 $5. 1849. Good, Elder, 1908 $ 70.00 $5. 1849. Very good. Brown, 1904 31.00 $5. 1849. Very good, Humbert, 1902 75.00 $5. 1849. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 140.00 $10. 1849. l ine. Chapman, 1886 11.00 $10. 1849. Poor, Leavitt, 1884 16.00 $10. 1849. Poor, Zabriskie, 1909 130.00 44 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST CALIFORNIA 1849—1855. There were fully fifteen private mints in California, which oper- ated from 1849 up to and including 1855. All the varieties of these coins are mentioned here, so far as known. Thefce issues were made as a substitute for the gold dust currency and had a wide circula- tion throughout California, the amount of private coins struck amounting to millions of dollars. It was estimated in 1856 that fully $8,000,000 worth of private coin was at that time in circulation in California. So far as can be learned, the first coin issued was the five-dollar piece of Norris, Grieg & Norris, dated 1849. Moffat & Co. was the first private minting firm to issue a ten-dollar piece, also dated 1849, while Baldwin & Co. issued the first twenty-dollar piece in 1851. The first fifty-dollar piece was issued by Moffat & Co., 1851. This was the octagonal coin, bearing the stamp of United States Assayer Augustus Humbert. The last private coins to be issued in California were dated 1855, and came from the private mints operated by Wass, Molitor & Co. and Kellogg & Co. Both of these establish- ments were located in San Francisco. MOFFAT & CO., San Francisco 1849. The assaying firm of Moffat & Co. was composed of John L. Moffat, Joseph R. Curtis, P. H. W. Perry, and Samuel H. Ward. Their place of business was situated at Clay and Dupont Streets. They began the issue of gold pieces to circulate as money about July, 1849, in the form of rectangular ingots of gold, varying in value from $9.43 to $264. In the latter part of 1850 the firm became United States assay contractors, and Augustus Humbert, of New York City, was appointed United States Assayer to affix the Government stamp upon the ingots of gold which had been produced at their estab- lishment. In early 1852 the original firm of Moffat & Co. dissolved, John L. Moffat retiring. The three remaining members of the firm reorganized under the title of Curtis, Perry & Ward, the contract for conducting the United States Assay Office being transferred to them. Their ingots bore the stamp of “United States Assay Office of Gold.” Mr. Humbert continued in the capacity of United States Assayer until the Assay Office ceased operations in the latter part of 1853. Mr. Moffat thereafter carried on an assay business under the U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 45 title of Moffat & Co., the last coins to bear his stamp being the twenty-dollar gold piece of 1853. Moffat & Co. issued the first ten-dollar piece of California during the latter part of July, 1849. Their coins were always held at par in California, and those dated 1849 and 1850 contained gold of an aver- age fineness of .897. The ten-dollar pieces averaged 258% grains in weight, with an average intrinsic value of $9.97.7. The rectangular ingots bearing their stamp, which ranged in denomination from $9.43 to $264, contained gold of an intrinsic value of a little less than stamped on their face, the United States Mint assayers estimating the value of the $16 ingot at $15.75. The oc- tagonal fifty-dollar pieces issued by Moffat & Co., bearing the stamp of the United States Assayer, Humbert, contained gold of a fineness of .880, .887, and .900. It is said that in quantities these pieces had a net mint value of $50.10 each, but only $49.90 in the single piece. The United States Assay Office ten and twenty dollar gold pieces of 1852 had a weight respectively of 262 7-10 and 525 4-10 grains, of a fineness of .884. The mint assayers found the ten-dollar pieces to weigh on an average 262.85 grains, the fineness, .882^4 (stamped .884), with an average value of $9.98i^, without taking into con- sideration the silver in each piece. $5. 1849. Good, Stickney, 1907 $ 6.00 $5. 1849. Fine, Elder, 1908 11.00 $5. 1849. Uncirculated, 1902 13.00 $5. 1849. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 40.00 $ 10 . $ 10 . $ 10 . 1849. Very good, Stickney, 1907 1849. Uncirculated, Elder, 1907. 1849. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 48.00 16.00 46 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST RECTANGULAR INGOTS. [MOFFAT&Cel 2l 7 /ie Carat I $9..45 1 $9.43. (1849.) No record of public sale. Only one speci- men known, this being in the Philadelphia mint col- lection. MOFFAT &C ill 20 5 / 4 Carat i $16.0 0 I $16. (1849.) Fine. Brown, 1904 $130.00 $16. (1849.) Humbert, 1902 - 545.00 $16. (1849.) Chapman, 1908 345.00 $16. (1849.) Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 285.00 $5. 1850. Very good, Stickney, 1907 7.50 $5. 1850. Fine, Elder, 1907 23.00 $5. 1850. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 25.00 $10. 1852. Very fine, Risse, 1903 26.00 $10. 1852. Good, Proskey, 1903 11.00 $10. 1852. Brilliant proof, Humbert, 1902 60.00 $10. 1852. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 110.00 AUGUSTUS HUMBERT, United States Assayer of Gold, California, 1851. (Name in edge, fineness “887” and “50” in centre of reverse.) U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 47 $50. 1851. Very fine. Elder, 1908 $260.00 $50. 1851. Very fine, Wilcox, 1901 100.00 $50. 1851. About uncirculated, Elder, 1909 330.00 $50. 1851. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 300.00 (Reeded edge, name around border, “887” fineness, and “50” omitted from reverse.) $50. 1851. Good, Elder, 1907 115.00 $50. 1851. Brilliant proof, Zabriskie, 1909 1,000.00 (Name in edge, fineness “880,” and reverse without “50.”) $50. 1851. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 100.00 (Reeded edge. Name around border, fineness “880,” and reverse without “50.”) $50. 1851. Uncirculated, Wilcox, 1901 142.00 (Name in edge, fineness “880” and “50" in centre of reverse.) $50. 1851. No public record of sale. (Name around border, fineness “887,” reeded edge.) $50. 1852. Extremely fine, Low, 1908 360.00 $50. 1852. Stickney, 1909 100.00 $50. 1852. Uncirculated, Zabriskie, 1909 . 450.00 $20. 1852. (Fineness “884.”) Fine, Stickney, 1907 125.00 $20. 1852. Do. Extremely fine, Humbert 75.00 $20. 1852. Semi-proof, Elder, 1907 135.00 $20. 1852. (Date recut over “1851.”) Brilliant proof, Za- briskie, 1909 360.00 $10. 1852. (Fineness “884.”) Uncirculated, Elder, 1908... 21.00 $10. 1852. Fine, Proskey, 1903 13. 0C $10. 1852. Uncirculated, Mehl, 1909 38.50 $10. 1852. Uncirculated, Zabriskie, 1909 101.00 48 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICE OF GOLD, SAN FRAN- CISCO, 1852. ,$50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $50. 1852. $10. 1852. $10. 1852. $10. 1852. $10. 1852. $20. 1853. (Fineness “887.”) Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907. $180. 00 Do. Extremely fine, Humbert, 1902 165.00 Do. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 179.00 Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 160.00 (Fineness “900.”) Fine, Taylor- W indie, 1908.. 100.00 (Fineness “900.”) Fine, Green, 1909 250.00 Do. Fine, Stickney, 1907 110.00 Extremely fine, Steigerwalt, 1907 275.00 Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 220.00 (Fineness “884.”) Very good, Stickney, 1907.. 14.00 Do. Fine, Elder, 1908 15.50 Do. Very good, Proskey, 1903 13.00 Do. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 16.00 (Fineness “884.”) Uncirculated, Stickney, 1907. 100.00 Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 26.00 22.00 21.00 23.00 18.00 36.00 1909 $20. 1853. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 $20. 1853. Do. Extremely fine, Humbert $20. 1853. Do. Fine, Proskey, 1903 $10. 1853. (Fineness “900.”) Fine, Stickney, 1907 $10. 1853. (Fineness “884.”) Very good, Zabriskie, 1909.. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 49 $20. 1853. About fine, Low, 1904 $ 31.00 $20. 1853. Fine, Humbert, 1902 ... 25.00 $20. 1853. Very fine, Proskey, 1903 20.00 $20. 1853. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 46.00 BALDWIN & CO., San Francisco, Cal. 1851. The original firm of Baldwin & Co. was composed of George C. Baldwin and Thomas S. Holman. Early in 1850 they purchased the coining apparatus of F. D. Kohler & Co. Some time later a change was made in the firm, Mr. Holman withdrawing and a partner by the name of Bagley taking his place. This firm struck many coins, dur- ing the first part of 1851 being credited with the production of $590,000 worth of gold pieces. When the firm suspended operations in 1851 it was estimated that fully $2,000,000 worth of coin bearing their stamp had been manufactured. The dies for all the coins bear- ing the name of Baldwin & Co. were engraved by Albert Kuner, of San Francisco, whose name appears on the obverse of the “Horse- man” ten-dollar piece. $5. 1850. Very fine, Stickney, 190? $125.00 $5. 1850. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 130.00 $10. 1850. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 355.00 $10. 1850. Uncirculated, Zabriskie, 1909 390.00 $10. 1851. Fine, Low, 1902 300.00 50 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST PUBOSQ & CO., San Francisco, Cal. 1850. This firm was composed of Theodore Dubosq and a man by the name of Goodwin, the title being Dubosq & Goodwin, although all their coins bore the stamp of “Dubosq & Co.” Theodore Dubosq had been formerly a Philadelphia jeweler. Notwithstanding the present rarity of coins bearing this stamp, nevertheless they were originally produced in considerable quantities. In the report of the production of private mints of San Francisco for the first quarter of 1851, Dubosq & Co. were credited with having produced $150,000 worth. According to the United States mint assavers the five-dollar pieces of Dubosq & Co. averaged .887 in fineness, with an intrinsic value of par, while the ten-dollar piece averaged 262 grains, of a fineness of .8991^, and had an intrinsic value of $10.15. Consequently their ten- dollar piece possessed the highest intrinsic value of any of the Cali- fornia private issues. Both the denominations are now very rare, and the price brought by the five-dollar piece as given below Is no criterion of the value of the coin. The only specimen of the five- dollar piece of which there is record is the one offered at the Curtis sale in 1884. It is not known who is its owner. There are but two known specimens of the ten-dollar piece bearing the name “Dubosq & Co.” One of these, a very finely preserved specimen, is in the pos- session of a well-known Chicago collector, while the other, in poor condition, is in the collection of the University of Pennsylvania, having been presented to that institution by a Philadelphia collector. $5. 1850. Good, Curtis, 1884 $0.40 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 5 $10. 1850. No record of public sale. CINCINNATI MINING AND TRADING COMPANY. San Francisco, Cal. 1849. Very little is known concerning the coining operations of this company. From what can be learned it was organized in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1849, when many companies were banding together in different parts ot the country, to seek the California gold fields and engage in various kinds of business, among which was to be that of coining. The rarity of the coins bearing this stamp would seem to indicate that they were simply trial pieces. That a coinage was con- templated is certain, as there are a number of five and ten dollar pieces in gold and one five-dollar and one twenty-dollar piece in copper. It is fairly certain that these coins never entered general circulation. So far as known there are but two specimens of the five-dollar piece and three of the ten-dollar pieces. The $5 and $10 pieces weigh respectively 132 and 258 grains, and have an intrinsic value of $4.95 and $9.70. $5. 1849. No record of public sale. $10. 1849. Chapman, 1908. $3,000 . 00 52 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $10. 1849. Fine, White, 1887 $ 51.00 $10. 1849. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 1,800.00 DUNBAR & CO. San Francisco, Cal. 1851. The senior member of this firm was Edward E. Dunbar. He conducted a banking business in San Francisco in 1851. Later he came back to New York and organized the Continental Bank Note Company, which afterward merged into the American Bank Note Company. Tne weight of the Dunbar five-dollar piece averaged 131 grains, of a fineness of .833, and had an intrinsic value of $4.98. The following record of sale is the only one obtainable of a specimen of this very rare coin, which should rank in value with the costliest of the California five-dollar pieces. The only specimen known is in the possession of a well-known Chicago collector. $5. 1851. Cleanay, 1890 $6.50 J. S. ORMSBY & CO. Sacramento, Cal. 1849. This firm was composed of Dr. J. S. Ormsby and Major William Ormsby. They conducted their minting establishment in 1849 on K Street, Sacramento, and struck many coins. Dr. Ormsby afterward represented Sonoma County in the California Legislature, and Major Ormsby was killed in a battle with Indians at Winnemucca, Nev., in 1860. Ormsby County, Nevada, is named after him. The Ormsby ten-dollar piece contained gold of a fineness of .842, weighed 258J4 grains, and possessed an intrinsic value of $9.37. This firm did an extensive business, the miners from the gold diggings often standing in a long line at the Ormsby mint awaiting their turn to have their raw gold transformed into “J. S. O.” gold pieces. A five-dollar piece is said to have been made by the Ormsbys, but no record of the existence of such a piece is obtainable. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 53 $10. (1849.) Cartwright, 1906 $1,310.00 $10. (1849.) Very good, Zabriskie, 1909 1,600.00 KELLOGG & CO. San Francisco, Cal. 1854. The firm of Kellogg & Co. was composed of John G. Kellogg, formerly of Auburn, N. Y., and George F. Richter, who began an assaying business as “Kellogg & Co.” at 106 Montgomery Street, Dec. 19, 1853. In 1854 Mr. Richter withdrew from the firm and Augustus Humbert joined Mr. Kellogg, the firm changing its title to Kellogg & Humbert, although the coins issued at their assay office all bore the name of Kellogg & Co. This was one of the most important private assay offices operated in California. Immense amounts of coin were produced with their stamp, the total amount issued being estimated in the neighborhood of $6,000,000. $20. 1854. (Large letters and small date.) Very fine, Wil- cox, 1901 $25.50 $20. 1854. Do. Fine, Taylor-Windle, 1908 22.50 $20. 1854. (Small letters and large date.) Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 22.00 $20. 1854. Do. Uncirculated, Zabriskie, 1909 50.00 $20. 1855. (Large letters and small date.) Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 32.00 $20. 1855. Do. Good, Wilcox, 1901 22.00 $20. 1855. Do. Fine, Stickney, 1907 32.50 54 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST F. D. KOHLER. State Assayer, California. 1850. The State Assay Office of California commenced operations on May 13, 1850, on the south side of Portsmouth Square, San Fran- cisco, with O. P. Dutton as Director and Frederick D. Kohler as State Assayer. On July 1, 1850, a branch of the State Assay Office was established on Third Street, near J, in Sacramento. John Bigler was director of this branch, with Mr. Kohler as assayer. The State Assay Office operated for nearly a year, its usefulness ceasing with the commencement of operations by the United States Assay Office early in 1851. The law creating the State Assay Office was repealed January 28, 1851. The United States Mint assayers at Philadelphia estimated that the intrinsic value of the State Assay Office ingots was from 1 to 1 y 2 per cent, more than the stamped value. All of the ingots issued by this office are very rare. The ingots of the value of $45.34 and $36.55 are the only ones known, and are in the possession of a well-known Chicago collector. The latter piece is the only specimen of the ingot made at the Sacra- mento branch of the Assay Office. There is also one specimen of the rectangular fifty-dollar piece, the real pioneer fifty-dollar “slug.” This piece is now in the coin collection of the Society of California Pioneers, on exhibition in the mint at San Francisco. The variety of $54.09, which is herewith illustrated, was taken from a book on the West written many years ago, and goes to show that still another of these curious pieces of California currency may still be in existence. The one of the denomination of $40.07 was formerly in the mint col- lection at Philadelphia. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 55 F • D. KOHLER STATE ASSAYER SAC: CAL* 18 50 . _20carat. 4 Sdwt.I^grs *3 6 . 5 5 CTS. $36.55. 1850. (Sacramento Office.) No record of public sale. F. D.KOHLER STATEASSAYER DW CARAT CA L ; - 21 1 $40.07. 1850. (San Francisco Office.) No record of public sale F. D. KOHLER STATE ASSAYER CAL - DWT CARAT 1850 4 9-J- 2l i- $ CTS 45 .34 \ \ $45.34. 1850. $50.00. 1850. (San Francisco Office.) Cartwright, 1906. .$1,050.00 (San Francisco Office.) No record of public sale. MASSACHUSETTS & CALIFORNIA COMPANY. San Francisco, Cal. 1849. The fivc-dollar coin bearing the stamp of this company is very rare in gold, and it is not known that a specimen has ever been offered for sale. There are but two specimens located — one in the United State Mint at Philadelphia and the other in the San Francisco Mint. No accurate information concerning this company can be 56 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST obtained. It is supposed that the company organized at Northamp- ton, Mass., in 1849, and took coining apparatus to California. Owing to the limited number of these coins now in existence the operations of the company could not have been very extensive. The probability is that the coins now in existence are simply trial pieces. This coin weighs 11 5j4 grains, of an extremely low fineness of gold, containing a large percentage of copper. Its intrinsic value was probably lower than that of any of the California five-dollar pieces. San Francisco, Cal. 1849. The firm of Wright & Co., which conducted the Miner’s Bank, was composed of Stephen A. Wright, John Thompson, Samuel W. Haight, and J. C. L. Wadsworth. Their place of business was located in Portsmouth Square, at the corner of Washington and Kearney Streets. The bank was housed in a little wooden cottage, for which a yearly rental of $75,000 was paid. Wright & Co. dissolved on January 14, 1850. The ten-dollar piece issued with this stamp was alloyed with copper, had an average weight of 263J4 grains, a fineness of .865, with an intrinsic value that ranged from $9.75 to $9.87. $10. (1849.) Fine, Brown, 1904 $70.00 $10. (1849.) Extremely fine, Elder, 1907 250.00 $10. (1849.) Extremely fine, Zabriskie 130.00 NORRIS, GRIEG & NORRIS. 1849. From what can be learned these five-dollar pieces were the first specimens of private coinage to be circulated in California. Mention U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 57 of the coin of this firm is found in a California newspaper as early as May 31, 1849, and this coin is the one first mentioned of all the California series. It has been variously stated that this firm con- ducted a business at Stockton and at Benicia, but no information can be obtained that will confirm the location of their establishment. The fineness of the gold contained by the “N. G. & N.” five-dollar pieces ranged from .870 to .892, with an intrinsic value from $4.83 to $4.95j^, and about 2*4 cents more when the value of the silver was Included. The gold was alloyed with silver only. $5. 1849. Plain edge. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 $35.00 $5. 1849. Do. Extremely fine, Zabriskie 46.00 $5. 1849. Do. Good, Elder, 1908 18.50 $5. 1849. Reeded edge. Fine, Elder, 1908 22.00 $5. 1849. Do. Extremely fine, Stickney 41.00 PACIFIC COMPANY. San Francisco, Cal. 1849. It is supposed that the coins bearing the above stamp were made by the firm of F. D. Kohler & Co., composed of Frederick D. Kohler and David C. Broderick (afterward United States Senator from California.) Both members of this firm went to San Francisco from New York City in 1849. The five-dollar piece weighed 130 grains, of a fineness of .797, and possessed an intrinsic value of $4.48. The ten-dollar piece weighed 229 grains, of a fineness of .797, and had an intrinsic value of $7.86. It is said that these coins, both of which are very rare, were, like the Ormsby pieces, struck with a sledgehammer, and that Mr. Broderick operated this section of the coining establishment, Mr. Kohler, who had been a jeweler in New York City, attending to the work of assay. The establishment of F. D. Kohler & Co. operated from the fall of 1849 until April, 1850, when the apparatus was transferred to Baldwin & Co., although it is said Mr. Broderick withdrew from the company in January, 1850, upon his election to the California Senate. Mr. Kohler discontinued his private assay operations to take up his duties as State Assayer of California. 58 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $10. 1849. $10. 1849. $10. 1849. Fine, Chapman, 1880 Low, 1903 420.00 TEMPLETON REID. 1849. Not the slightest information can be gained as to the coining operations of the above assayer in California. It would seem that the two denominations associated with California were merely pat- tern or trial pieces, and that these coins never went into general circulation. The ten and twenty-five dollar pieces weigh respect- ively 260 and 649 grains, possessing an intrinsic value of $9.75 and $24.50. Both of these coins are of the greatest rarity. The only known specimen of the ten dollars is at the Philadelphia Mint. While the $25 piece is not definitely known to exist, yet a progressive young coin dealer of Philadelphia, who this year was connected with the big- gest transaction in gold coins ever consummated in the United States, has informed the compiler that he has located a specimen of this greatest of Territorial rarities and may be able to bring it to the surface before the expiration of the present year. $10. 1849. No record of public sale. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 59 $35. 1849. No record of public sale. SHULTZ & CO. San Francisco, Cal. 1851. The above firm was composed of Judge G. W. Shultz and William T. Garratt, who in 1850 conducted a brass foundry back of Bald- win’s coining establishment. At this time they made all the dies used for coining in San Francisco. Later they began coining five- dollar pieces in considerable quantities, and also were said to have made ten-dollar pieces. The United States Mint assayer found the five-dollar piece to average .879 in fineness, with a weight of 138^4 grains, and an intrinsic value of $4.94.4. Albert Kuner engraved the dies. $5. 1851. No record of public sale. There are but two specimens of this* coin known to exist — one in the possession of a well- known Wisconsin collector, the other owned by a collector of Rochester, N. Y. Through an error of the engraver of the dies for this five-dollar piece the name of the firm on the diadem of Liberty is misspelled “Shults & Co.” The senior member of the firm, however, always spelled his name with a final “z” instead of an “s.” He was well- known in San Francisco, and after retiring from the coinage business engaged in that of gold mining. 60 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST WASS, MOLITOR & CO. San Francisco, Cal. 1852. This firm was composed of two Hungarian patriots — Count S. C. Wass and A. P. Molitor. They commenced coining operations early in 1852 with the production of a five-dollar piece. Their plant was located at 89 Merchant Street, in Naglee’s Building. The five-dollar piece weighed 131 9-10 grains, of a fineness of .880, and had an in- trinsic value of $5.04, which represented a sufficient excess to pay the expense of recoinage at the United States Mint without cost to the depositor. This coin possessed the highest intrinsic value of any of the five-dollar pieces issued by private persons in California. Albert Kuner engraved the dies for all the coins issued by this company. $5. 1852. Fine, Randall, 1885 $7.50 $10. 1852. Uncirculated, Proskey, 1903 38.00 $10. 1852. About fine, Elder, 1908 31.00 $10. 1855. Fine, Cartwright, 1907 44.00 $10. 1855. Fine, Wilcox, 1901 17.50 $10. 1855. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 41.00 $20. 1855. Fine, Elder, 1908 500.00 $20. 1855. (Small head.) Very good, Proskey, 1903 66.00 $50. 1855. About uncirculated, Elder, 1908 455.00 $50. 1855. Fair, Appleton, 1907 255.00 $50. 1855. Very fine, Humbert, 1902 275.00 $50. 1855. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 280.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 61 UTAH Salt Lake City. 1849-1860. Very little metallic currency passed among the Mormons in 1849, gold dust being the only circulating medium, and the Latter Day Saints made arrangements to strike gold coins bearing their own stamp from the great quantities of gold that had come from Cali- fornia. Apparatus necessary for coinage was constructed by resi- dents of the Mormon capital, the mint being located on South Tem- ple Street. Thomas Bullock was the director. In the cellar the gold dust and nuggets were refined, while on the first floor was placed the primitive coining press. John Kay was the first coiner. The de- signs of the gold pieces of 1849, of the denomination of $2.50, $5, $10, and $20, were very much alike, the dies being engraved by a local dentist, James M. Barlow. Previous to this it is said an at- tempt had been made to strike gold coins from dies engraved by Robert Campbell, which were broken. It is not known whether any of the coins of this earlier pattern are in existence. The intrinsic value of the $20 pieces ranged from $16 to $18. The fineness of the gold varied from .899 to .900, but the weight was about 85 grains less than that of the United States double eagle, ranging from 436 to 453 grains. This Mormon double eagle was the first coin of the denomination to be issued in the United States, and pre- sumably first made its appearance about May, 1849. Cary Peebles, a California pioneer, states that he sold goods to the Mormons in May, 1849, and received in return $4,000 worth of new Mormon coins, the first issued at the Salt Lake City Mint, as he stood by and watched the coins being made. The ten-dollar piece averaged in weight from 219 to 224 grains, with an intrinsic value between $8.50 and $8.70. The five-dollar piece of 1849 weighed 111 grains, of an intrinsic value of about $4.30, and the $2.50 piece, of a weight of 58 grains, had a value of $2.25. All of the Mormon coins had plain edges. In 1850 a new design for a five-dollar piece was executed. This was similar to the same denomination of 1849, but showed a circle of nine stars around a somewhat different eye and mitre. No more coins were issued bearing the Mormon stamp until 1860, when a new variety of five-dollar piece of original design was issued. A mint assay of this specimen showed it to weigh 116 grains, with a fineness of .874, the intrinsic value being $4.40. This was the last coin to be issued at the Mormon mint. 62 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $2.50. 1849. Fine, Stickney, 1907 $175.00 $2.50. 1849. Fine, Elder, 1907 90.00 $2.50. 1849. Very good, Zabriskie, 1909 77.50 $5. 1849. Stickney, 1907 27.50 $5. 1849. About uncirculated, Elder, 1907 40.75 $5. 1849. Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 32.00 $5. 1849. About uncirculated, Elder, 1908 46.25 $5. 1849. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 47.50 $10. 1849. Poor, Leavitt, 1884 16.00 $10. 1849. Dietrich, 1884 22.00 $10. 1849. Very good, Zabriskie, 1909.. 705.00 $20. 1849. Very good, Brown, 1904 150.00 $ 20 . 1849. Fine, Cartwright, 1907 155.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 63 $20. 1899. Fine, Humbert, 1902 $180.00 $20. 1899. Very fine, Zabriskie, 1909 270.00 $5. 1850. Extremely fine, Low, 1903 28.25 $5. 1850. Good, Stickney, 1907 17.50 $5. 1850. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1907 57.50 $5. 1850. Very fine, Jewett, 1909 54.00 $5. 1860. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 60.00 $5. 1860. Fine, Stickney, 1907 40.00 $5. 1860. Extremely fine, Zabriskie, 1909 49.00 $5. 1860. Very fine, Jewett, 1909 48.00 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST COLORADO Denver, Colo. 1860-1861. The coins of three private minting firms, which operated in Colo- rado during the days of the Pike’s Peak gold excitement, in 1860 and 1861, are herewith given — Clark, Gruber & Co., John Parsons & Co., and J. J. Conway & Co. The first coins made by Clark, Gruber & Co. bear the name of “Clark & Co.” The members of the firm of Clark, Gruber & Co. were Milton E. Clark, Austin M. Clark, and E. H. Gruber. They handled gold dust produced at the Colorado mines, and in 1860 conceived the plan of striking their own gold coins from the native gold with which to make purchases of gold dust from the miners. Their establishment was located on McGaa Street, in Denver, and the first coins struck were ten-dollar pieces. The mint opened in July, 1860. The old coining machinery used by this firm is now on exhibition in the rooms of the Colorado State Historical Society, at the State Capitol building. Coins of all the regular United States gold denominations except the one and three- dollar pieces were made by Clark, Gruber & Co. in 1860 and 1861. In 1862 the Government purchased their minting establishment, which was thereafter conducted as a United States Assay Office for many years. The original bill provided for a Government mint at Denver, but coins were not struck there until 1906, when the new mint on Colfax Avenue first began operations. The Clark, Gruber & Co. $10 and $20 pieces were found by the United States Mint assayers to vary in fineness from .815 to .838, and that they were made directly from native Colorado gold, with its natural silver al- loy, without any attempt to maintain or fix upon a standard. The pieces of $10 and $20 were greater in weight than similar denomi- nations of the regular United States coinage to make up for the lower fineness, the weight of the ten-dollar pieces ranging from 2T3 to 283j^ grains. On an average, after adding the value of the silver in each and deducting the mint charges, the coins were found to be of their stamped value and over. This was by far the most important of the Colorado private mints, which from July, 1860, up to the end of January, 1861, manufactured over $134,000 worth of gold coins of the various denominations. The total coinage of this establishment has been set at nearly $600,000. No mention can be found of the issue of the very rare double eagles of 1860 of Clark, Gruber & Co., and it is probable that the specimens in existence represent gold trial pieces, for some reason the general manufacture of the coins not being carried out. U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 65 $5. I860. Uncirculated, Elder, 1908 31.75 $5. 1860. Very fine, Stickney, 1907 12.50 $5. 1860. Very fine, Chapman, 1908 18.00 $5. 1860. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 19.00 $10. 1860. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 52.50 $10. 1860. Extremely fine, Elder, 1908 50.00 $10. 1860. Fine, Brown, 1904 38.00 $10. 1860. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 42.00 $20. 1860. Scott, 1883 26.50 $20. 1860. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 645.00 66 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $2.50. 1861. Fine, Chapman, 1908 $ 17.50 $2.50. 1861. Nearly fine, Elder, 1908 13.00 $2.50. 1861. Extremely fine, Brown, 1904 7.50 $2.50. 1861. Very fine, Proskey, 1903 8.50 $5. 1861. Fine, Brown, 1904 13.00 $5. 1861. Very fine. Chapman, 1908 21.50 $5. 1861. Very fine, Proskey, 1903 11.00 $5. 1861. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 21.00 $10. 1861. Very fine, Proskey, 1903 16.00 $10. 1861. Fine, Stickney, 1907.. 20.00 $10. 1861. Extremely fine, Elder, 1908 23.00 $10. 1861. Fine, Zabriskie, 1909 21.00 $20. 1861. Extremely fine, Stickney, 1907 300.00 U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 67 JOHN PARSONS & CO. Tarryall Mines 1861. Very little is known concerning the operations of this private minting firm. It is said that John Parsons brought coining machin- ery from Quincy, 111., to the Pike’s Peak district in 1861, and began the manufacture of his coin. The inscription on these pieces reads “Oro,” and from this fact the theory has been advanced that Parsons located his mint at Oro City, which formerly was situated on the present site of Leadville, in California Gulch. A later Oro City was established two miles further up the gulch. However, it is quite certain that Parsons’ mint was located in the South Park, at the Tarryall Mines, and that his coins first appeared in the latter part of June or the first of July, 1861. The Weekly News, of Denver, dated July 3, 1861, states that “Parsons & Co., of Hamilton, are making preparations for a gold coinage there. The issue will be in quarter and half eagles of handsome and original design. We have seen facsimiles of the coins.” The Miners’ Record, issued at Tarryall, dated Sept. 7, 1861, says: “We were shown by J. B. Stansell, Esq., one day this week, some new coins of the denomination of $2.50, which were coined by Dr. J. Parsons, of Tarryall Mines. The specimens we saw were the first that had been coined, and although they were not as even and per- fect in form as is usual in gold coins, were fair samples of Pike’s Peak coinage. The designs on this denomination are on one side the American eagle in the centre, with the words “Pike’s Peak Gold Doll” encircling it; on the other, a representation of a six-stamp quartz mill, with the words, “Parsons & Co., Oro.” We understand Dr. Parsons designs removing his coining machinery to Buckskin Joe, where he will establish a mint for the coining of gold of dif- ferent denominations.” The Tarryall mines were discovered on July 13, 1859, and were situated on Tarryall Creek, in the South Park, the diggings being located a short distance from the town of Tarryall. Hamilton was situated about two miles distant. From what can be learned, there- fore, it would appear that the Parsons mint was located at neither Oro City nor Plamilton, but right at the Tarryall diggings. The Buckskin Joe diggings were situated on Buckskin Joe Creek, a branch of the Platte River, near the town of Lauret, formerly known as Buckskin Joe. Whether Dr. Parsons’ plan of removing his mint to this place was carried out, is not known. 68 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $2.50. (1861.) Extremely fine, Wilcox, 1901 $350.00 $2.50. (1861.) Good, Howard 19.00 The above represents the only public records of the prices brought by these pieces. These may be said to be very much under the real value of the coins, both denominations of which are of the highest rarity, the five-dollar piece especially so. Neither of these coins is dated. It is pretty certain that the name of the senior member of this firm was “Parsons,” and not “Parson,” as appears on the coins. The omission of the final “s” was probably due to a mistake on the part of the engraver. In all the newspaper references to him the name was spelled “Parsons,” and a veteran Denver assayer, who knew the Doctor personally, stated that he was sure the name was spelled with the final “s.” J. J. CONWAY & CO. Georgia Gulch 1861. Information concerning the establishment which produced the coins of this stamp is very meagre. Some doubt has been expressed that such a mint ever operated in Colorado. Obtainable records, however, show that such a mint did operate for a limited time in 1861. It would seem that the mint was located in Summit County, in Georgia Gulch, which early in 1861 was one of the richest gold fields in Colorado Territory. The Gulch was in the heart of the Snowy Range Mountains, just over the range from Tarryall. At the mouth of the gulch was the town of Parkville, and it is thought there the Conway mint was located. Early in September, 1861, a meeting of the miners and traders was held in order to establish a uniform rate at which gold dust should be current, at the time this commodity ranging in value from $14 to $16 per ounce. A disagreement occurred between the miners and traders as to the rate, which promised a deadlock, when the firm of Conway & Co. solved the difficulty by manufacturing their gold pieces. A corre- spondent of the Rocky Mountain News, of Aug. 21, 1861, says: “There is a mint in Georgia Gulch, conducted by J. J. Conway & Co., U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 69 jewelers and bankers. Their machinery seems to be as fine as that of Clark, Gruber & Co., and their five and ten-dollar gold pieces look as nice and rich as Uncle Sam himself could get up.” The coins must have been issued earlier in August, however, for in the Weekly Rocky Mountain News, of Denver, dated Aug. 14, 1861, the statement was made that a careful assay of a new coin of the denomination of five dollars, “issued by J. J. Conway & Co., of Georgia Gulch,” had been assayed, and shown to contain gold of a fineness of .722^4 and the value in American coin of only $4.26. There seems to have been a mistake in this first assay, for a later number of the same paper says that as it had been represented that the Conway coins were of light weight and deficient in value, it reproduced the certificate of T. G. Perrenaud, a local assayer, in which it was shown that the Conway five-dollar piece weighed 140.30 grains Troy, the gold being of a fineness of .822, the proportion of silver being .78, and, estimat- ing the silver, the intrinsic value of the coin was $5.01. The only specimen of the five-dollar piece so far offered at public sale brought $3,200. It weighed 141.19 grains. All of the coins bearing this stamp are excessively rare. So far as known there are only two specimens of the $2.50, two of the five, and one of the ten- dollar piece. The three denominations are in the collection of the mint at Philadelphia. A well-known Chicago collector owns the only other known $2.50 piece. None of the Conway coins is dated. $5. (1861.) Uncirculated, Taylor-Windle, 1908 3,200 TO ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM* LIST UNITED STATES GOLD PATTERN COINS. Gold pattern coins are those which have been made at the United States Mint as samples for proposed coinage, but which for one reason or another were not adopted. They include several denomina- tions which were never used for general circulation, such as the four- dollar and fifty-dollar coins. The first gold pattern coin was the dollar of 1836, a very hand- some little coin. The last gold pattern coins now obtainable by col- lectors are the four-dollar pieces, dated 1880. All of the gold pattern coins are held in high estimation by collectors, the highest in price being the unique fifty-dollar, or five-eagle, pieces and the unique double eagles of 1876. With the exception of the two latter coins, there are striking differences between the designs of all the other pattern gold pieces and the coins of regular issue. $1. 1836. (Radiated liberty cap.) Proof, Elder, 1907 $ 37.00 $1. 1836. (Radiated liberty cap.) Proof, Parmelee, 1890.. 2.75 $1. 1836. (Radiated liberty cap.) Proof, Stickney, 1907.. 38.00 $1. 1849. (Engraved design, square hole in centre.) Proof, Smith, 1906 22.00 $1. 1849. (Engraved design, square hole in centre.) Un- circulated, Parmelee, 1890 5.10 $1. 1852. Ring Gold Dollar. Proof, Stickney, 1907 35.00 $1. 1852. Do. Parmelee, 1890 5.60 $1. 1852. “United States of America 1852” around hole. Seven olive sprigs. Uncirculated, Davis, 1890 5.25 $1. 1852. “United States of America 1852” around circle of six bows. Rev. “Dollar” and garland of leaves. Very fine. Davis, 1890 4.50 $1. 1852. Do. Gschwend, 1908 51.00 Half Dollar. (1852.) Proof, Parmelee, 1890 5.00 Half Dollar. (1852.) Uncirculated, Smith, 1906 31.00 $20. 1861. Tall, thin letters in legend. Paquet design. Parmelee, 1890 44.00 $5. 1873. (Reverse shows eagle with three arrows in left talon, the right supporting an upright U. S. Shield, with ribbon inscribed “In God We Trust.” Proof, Smith, 1906 160.00 $20. 1876. Die adopted in 1877. Proof, Haseltine, 1909 1,000.00 $20. 1876. Similar to above, but different from regular die of the year. Nagy, proof, 1909 1,000.00 vrrrrnTrnrri U. S., PRIVATE, TERRITORIAL GOLD COINS 71 FIFTY DOLLARS. Only two specimens of the United States fifty-doilar pieces in gold were ever struck at a United States mint. These pieces, which were made in response to a demand from the business men of Cali- fornia for a gold piece of large denomination to answer the pur- pose of quick counting, were sold a short time ago to a well-known New York collector for a sum that eclipsed all previous records of coins in the world, being no less than $10,000 each. They are re- garded as the rarest coins in the world from an American point of view, as they represent the only instance where the United States Government issued a gold piece of that denomination. In this instance, owing to the importance of the coins, the price will be given, although the sale was conducted privately. While the designs appear to be the same, still there is a marked difference in the ob- verses, which will be discovered upon careful scrutiny. 72 ADAMS’ OFFICIAL PREMIUM LIST $50. 1877. Diadem with five starlike ornaments. Nagy, 1909 $10,000 $10. 1878. (Two heads of wheat on Liberty cap, motto “E Pluribus Unum” in one line.) Barber. Scott, 1888 20.00 $10. 1878. Proof, Parmelee, 1890 10.00 $10. 1878. (Without heads of wheat, motto “In God We Trust.” The Morgan design. Scott, 1888 19.00 $10. 1878. Proof, Parmelee, 1890 11.50 $4. 1879. The Morgan design. Smith, 1906 255.00 $4. 1879. The Barber design. Zabriskie, 1909 85.00 $20. 1879. (The metric double eagle.) Davis, 1890, proof . . 43.00 $20. 1879. Do. Proof, Smith, 1907 150.00 $20. 1879. Do. Proof, Maris, 1886 110.00 $4. 1880. The Barber design. Adams, 1905 265. Of $4. 1880. The Barber design, Elder, 1909 450. 0( $4. 1880. The Morgan design. Smith, 1906 370. Of r