1639

Undated (1834). C. Bechtler $5 Die Trial. Kagin-20 (Kagin-1 in the pattern section of Private Gold C

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
Undated (1834). C. Bechtler $5 Die Trial. Kagin-20 (Kagin-1 in the pattern section of Private Gold C
SOLD
15,000.00USDto g****2+ buyer's premium (2,625.00)
This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 10 @ 02:17UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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Undated (1834). C. Bechtler $5 Die Trial. Kagin-20 (Kagin-1 in the pattern section of Private Gold Coins & Patterns of the United States). Overstruck on a 1775 Spanish Colonial 2 Reales. Rarity-8, Unique. With 134 G., Star. VF Details – Plugged – PCGS.
This rare – unique -- die trial strike on a 1775-dated Spanish-American 2 reales is as neat as it gets in the pioneer gold series. The deep slate gray obverse stands in bold contrast with the much lighter silver-gray reverse. Portions of the host coin’s details can be seen in places, with the best details at the rim on the parasite strike’s obverse. A glass reveals the typical scratches and marks associated with a coin that probably circulated from its birth until it was plucked from circulation as a useless and worn-out “two-bits” piece and then pressed into service one final time by the Bechtler family. The host coin’s edge details were all but obliterated by the strike which also caused the planchet to spread to a larger diameter than is common in 2 reales pieces of the era. The plug is at the 9 o’clock position on the obverse, where the first C in C. BECHTLER had to be reinvented on the surface of the plug; on the reverse the plug affects the D of GOLD. What this coin lacks in aesthetic charm is amply compensated for by its unique standing in numismatics.

As far as we know for sure, this may be the only surviving die trial of a Bechtler coin of any denomination Besides the Restrike die trial offered in the next lot, there is supposed to be a $1 A. Bechtler struck in silver that we have not seen nor can confirm. There is a $2 ½ C. Bechtler 27G/21C gilded copper piece similar to Kagin -10 that appeared in the famous Garrett sale (Bowers & Ruddy 11/7:509). However this piece is struck from different dies than K-10 and its authenticity needs to be verified.

This coin is unique by any other standard and so, too, is your opportunity for acquisition. Once this coin is hammered home to a new owner, you can probably safely bet your bottom dollar that it will be a long spell before it makes another appearance.

Obverse: CAROLINA GOLD: at rim from 8 to 4 o’clock around, 134.G. at center, inverted five-pointed star beneath, 21 CARATS curves at rim beneath star.
Reverse: C: BECHTLER: AT RUTHERF: and star around, 5 at center, DOLLARS. curves below.
Die Alignment: about 325 degrees.

PCGS Population: 1. No others listed.

Ex: From the Allan Collection.
Ex: Waldo Newcomer, New Netherlands, et.al. ANA 8/52:4517, Conway Bolt Stack's 4/66:260, Henry Clifford, Don Kagin, Dr. Chris Allan.

PCGS Coin Facts