1840-42 Gold $1 A BECHTLER 27.G. 21.C. DOL: Plain Edge NGC AU58

Here’s a sharply struck early die state example of this important artifact of the Southern Gold Rush. NGC has graded 95 examples of this popular variety as AU58 with 133 finer. Collectors Universe prices it at $5,000.00 in AU58.

The 47-year-old Christopher Bechtler arrived in New York from Germany  in 1829, accompanied by his sons, August and Karl, and his nephew, Christopher Jr. In 1830, the Bechtlers moved to North Carolina and lived north of Rutherfordton. In July of that same year, Bechtler, who was an expert in gold, opened a jewelry and clock repair enterprise in Rutherfordton. North Carolina miners and merchants petitioned the U.S. Congress in 1831 to establish a branch mint in that gold-rich region. Their efforts fell on deaf ears. After the affront by Congress, several miners approached Bechtler and proposed the idea of having him assay their gold and then convert it into coins. For the gold-smitten Bechtler, it was a match made in heaven.

The Bechtler gold press.

The Betchlers minted three denominations: $1, $2.5 and $5, struck in 20kt, 21kt and 22kt fine gold. The coins were considered to be of honest weight; the variation in fineness was attributed solely to the limited technology available at the time. Bechtler’s services were reasonably priced: he charged 2 to 2.5 percent for assaying and coining gold dust. The federal standard for gold coins was lowered on August 1, 1834, and the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury recommended to the Philadelphia Mint director that coins struck thereafter carry that date. This was not done on federal coins, but Bechtler placed the August 1, 1834, date on four varieties of his $5 pieces to avoid problems with Treasury officials.