1675

Undated (circa 1849) $10 Die Trial on Classic Head Cent 1810-1814. VF-30 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Undated (circa 1849) $10 Die Trial on Classic Head Cent 1810-1814. VF-30 PCGS.
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20,000.00USD+ (3,500.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 09 @ 23:19UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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Undated (circa 1849) $10 Die Trial on Classic Head Cent 1810-1814. VF-30 PCGS.
K-1 (p.357 of Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States) 153.2gr; 30mm. 270 degree turned) Deep chocolate brown throughout. Many of the host coin’s details show including 1814 date. Unevenly struck on both sides from by the same die but more forcibly on the cent obverse than the reverse. Stylistically of the same non-descript tenor generally attributed to the early Gold Rush era, but without manufacturer’s identification. Weakly struck in areas. Obverse: VALU(E) arcs above, TEN DOLLARS curves below, 3 stars to left, 1 (of 3) to right, 2?? / GRS. ??? / 22 with star to each side / CARATS at center on four lines. Reverse: another impression of the obverse reading (VAL)UE at top, 262 / (G)RS GOLD / 22 with star to each side / CARATS – between the two impressions the entirety becomes clear.

The coin is generally similar in appearance and design to the Bechtler coinage and to a pattern also struck on an 1841 Large cent by Bechtler friend and executor, Heinrich Schaeffer (see pages 83 and 357 of Don Kagin’s book, Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States). However the punches are not an exact match. It is quite possible that either Schaeffer or another coiner experimented with striking coins during our nation's second gold rush in California.

We are not certain at all of the origins of this piece but can posit some reasonable speculation. This specimen first came to our notice as part of the noted Western historian and pioneer gold specialist, Henry Clifford’s collection. According to his records, Clifford acquired it 9/12/1957 from numismatic curator, Dr. T.V. Buttrey of Yale University. When Clifford’s non-gold pioneer coinage collection was sold by Bowers & Ruddy Galleries (3/82:118), it was purchased by numismatist John J. Ford. Stacks later sold this piece in one of the celebrated Ford sales (9/13:10103) where it brought $17,625 after fierce bidding.

Extremely Rare, intriguing, and unusual, and a numismatic item that has the power to enthrall territorial gold specialists, Bechtler gold and large cent enthusiasts alike.

PCGS Coin Facts