BG- 530, 1853 California Gold Rush Circulating Fractional Gold $1, Liberty Octagonal PCGS MS63 R3

Here’s a more affordable variety in the extensive circulating California Fractional Gold series to add to your collection. The obverse offers an attractive Liberty head, inspired by the federal gold issues of the day, facing left. The reverse has ‘1 DOLLAR 1853’ within a beaded circle. Around the rim is found ‘CALIFORNIA GOLD.’ PCGS has graded 16 as MS63 with 3 finer. Collectors Universe gives this variety a price of $1,650.00 in MS63.

Portsmouth Square in San Francisco in 1851. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

This variety was designed and produced by Antoine Louis Nouizillet, a San Francisco jeweler and  prominent maker of California Fractional Gold from 1852-1858. He is first found in the San Francisco city directory of September 8, 1852, when he was partners with Isodore Routhier in a jewelry shop. A few months later, in the December 1852 directory, there are a few separate listings. He is shown as Nouizillet & Co, Jewelers, as well as by himself, with Routhier having a separate listing. Another business associate of his during this time was the die-sinker M. Deriberpie.