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(1922) C. Bechtler $5. Kagin-3 Die Trial Pattern (page 324 of Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:11,750.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
(1922) C. Bechtler $5. Kagin-3 Die Trial Pattern (page 324 of Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the
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This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 10 @ 02:17UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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(1922) C. Bechtler $5. Kagin-3 Die Trial Pattern (page 324 of Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States) of the K-31 (page 265) Unofficial U.S. Mint “Chapman” Restrike. Gilt Brass. Plain Edge. UNIQUE. MS-63 PCGS.
This frosty olive gold example appears almost matte-like in-hand. The soft luster seemingly glows from within on this choice example. Close-in examination reveals the light rust that was present in the early 1920’s when dealer Henry Chapman reportedly found three Bechtler dies. Taking advantage of his Philadelphia connections, Chapman had the Mint strike “Ten (10) Gold Bechtler Medals, .999 Fine” in March, 1922. Prior to the gold strikings he had the Mint strike this one in brass and then had it gilded to see what it would look like in gold. This is evident because unlike all the gold restrikes, there has no prominent die break on the obverse.

Pioneer patterns, with the exception of the Colorado Clark, Gruber & Co. series of 1860-61, are extremely rare, with only a half dozen known from our nation’s first gold rush. There were no known die trials of a restrike until this piece was offered in 1933 by B. Max Mehl as part of the Waldo Newcomer collection. It later wound up in the collection of King Farouk and sold by Sotheby’s in February, 1954 where it was acquired by dealer James Kelly. Kelly sold it in one of his catalogs in August 1956 and its whereabouts went unknown until Don Kagin acquired it for the Clifford-Kagin Collection. When that collection was privately sold by Kagin's, Dr. Allan purchased all the Bechtlers intact including this piece. It has not publically been on the market for over sixty years!

No others are known. As a matter of fact, there is no other known pioneer pattern restrike.

Expect hearty bidding activity will be the order of the day for this historic and unique rarity.

Obverse: CAROLINA GOLD arcing around, 141.G: at center, 20. beneath, CARATS beneath in small letters. No die crack from 12:00 to A in CARATS
Reverse: C: BECHTLER. AT RUTHERF: and star around, 5 at center, DOLLARS curves below.
Die Alignment: 180 degrees.

PCGS & NGC Population: 1 no others known.

Ex: From the Allan Collection.
Ex: Waldo Newcomer, B. Max Mehl 1933, King Farouk, Sotheby’s Palace sale 2/54:1712, James Kelly 8/56:1830, Clifford and Kagin Collections.

PCGS Coin Facts