1860 $2.50 Colorado Gold - Clark Gruber 'Pikes Peak' Quarter Eagle NGC MS61

Here’s a rare mint state piece for the specialist in Territorial Gold. This example was struck from gold from the Colorado Gold Rush. Please take a look at the images of this coins with its attractive greenish-gold coloration. NGC has graded 5 as MS61 with 14 finer. Collectors Universe gives it a price of $17,500.00 in MS61.

The Bank and Mint of Clark, Gruber & Co., circa 1860. Photo: denverlibrary.org.

The most successful private mint in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado was the Leavenworth, KS, company of Clark, Gruber & Co. The banking facet of their operation opened its doors for business on July 10, 1860, in Denver City. Thus it was one of the first banking firms in the Colorado Territory. Most of their business was in raw gold: dust, nuggets, ore, and rough ingots.

They determined quite soon that the expense and danger of shipping their gold to the Philadelphia mint was simply too high. Therefore, since at the time it was legal for private firms to mint their own coins, Clark, Gruber & Co. purchased equipment and dies necessary to do so. They established their own mint in Denver, issuing gold coins in the denominations of $2-1/2, $5, $10 and $20.