1860 $10 Colorado Gold - Clark Gruber & Co. PCGS AU50

Functioning both as a bank and as a private mint, Clark, Gruber & Co. built a reputation for honesty and integrity in both the banking business and in the buying and minting of Colorado gold dust into gold coin. The gold dust was alloyed with silver, meaning the weight of Clark, Gruber's coinage was greater than federal coinage (17 grains heavier for the ten dollar pieces), but equal in value to the different denominations.

This example of ten dollar Pike's Peak Gold was struck during the first year of the mint operations in 1860. A triangular representation of Pike's Peak mountain gives the coin a quaint motif unique to its Denver mintage. The coin shows minimal abrasions given the assigned grade, considering the softness of the alloy that makes the 1860 issue challenging to find with optimal surfaces. Attractive orange-gold toning with residual mint luster covers both sides of this appealing ten dollar gold piece. A small dig to the right of the eagle's head is the sole mark of note.