BG- 510, 1854 California Gold Rush Circulating Fractional Gold $1, Liberty Octagonal NGC MS62PL R5-

Period One Fractional Gold pieces are very popular and always in demand. They are scarce in higher grades (especially in Prooflike!) since they were needed in California for everyday business transactions before the San Francisco Mint was fully operational. NGC has graded 3 as MS62 Prooflike with just 2 finer. Please bear in mind that NGC has only graded and authenticated a total of 6 examples of BG-510 as Prooflike!

Renowned numismatist and author Eric P. Newman had an example of the 1854 BG-510 in his famous collection of numismatic art.

The obverse features an attractive left-facing Coroneted Liberty head surrounded by 10 stars. Upon the reverse ‘CALIFORNIA. ★ GOLD.’ is near the rim, encompassing a beaded circle. Within the circle is ‘1 DOLLAR 1854’. Below near the rim is the FD mintmark for Frontier-Deviercy, the jewelers who designed and produced the BG-510 and several over Fractional Gold varieties.

Eric P. Newman had a specimen of the BG-510 in his world-famous collection. Wouldn’t this offering from AUCM be a great addition to yours? Photo: Newman Numismatic Portal (nnp.wustl.edu/).