| Description: |
Bright and lustrous yellow gold with traces of olive iridescence. Fully prooflike, with
frosty motifs and mirrored fields. A variety that definitely saw use as pocket change in
Gold Rush California; three examples of this variety were recovered from the 1853 wreck of
the S.S. Winfield Scott. Only five examples of this date have received finer grades from
PCGS.PCGS Population: 13; 5 finer (MS-66 finest).Maker: Antoine Louis Nouizillet, 1852-58.
Obverse: Federal style head of Liberty to left, 13 six-pointed stars around. Star five
nearly touches tip of coronet.Reverse: HALF DOL. CALIFORNIA GOLD around an open top
wreath, six-pointed star below wreath, date within wreath. Five triple leaves on left stem
of wreath, five triple leaves on right stem, five pairs of berries per stem, angular bow
within wreath. Date numerals nicely formed and evenly spaced, 5 leans slightly right,
large ornate balls on 3. Edge: ReededDie State I: Perfect dies.It is interesting to note
that the present variety, BG-430, was illustrated as current money on the cover of Dye’s
1854-1855 cambist, there valued at 48¢ for gold content. The same illustration was used
on the cover of Hodges’ Gold & Silver Coin Chart Manual, where it was also valued at
48¢ (circa 1858; later, circa 1861 the value there was reduced to 32¢). |
