BG- 532, 1854 California Gold Rush Circulating Fractional Gold $1, Liberty Octagonal PCGS MS64 R4- Finest Known!

Here’s an excellent opportunity for you to add a “Finest Known” example of the popular BG-532 variety from the extensive Period One of the California Fractional Gold series to your collection. PCGS has graded 139 specimens of BG-532 and of those there are only 2 graded MS64—with absolutely none finer! NGC has graded 39 pieces with the finest being MS63.

The obverse has the popular Liberty head design that was inspired by the federally issued gold coins of the 1850s. The Coroneted left-facing Lady Liberty is surrounded by 13 stars. The reverse presents CALIFORNIA GOLD near the rim and an open wreath with berries, within which is found "1 DOLLAR 1854." Overall this piece has a very striking look with its lustrous surfaces.

Gold miners during the California Gold Rush. This specimen offered by AUCM was crafted with Gold Rush gold dust.

This variety was designed and struck by Antoine Louis Nouizillet, a San Francisco jeweler and a leading producer of California Fractional Gold from 1852-1858. He is first discovered 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.