BG-1024, 1870 California Fractional Gold 50C, Liberty Round NGC MS63PL R4-

Here’s a dramatic—and affordable—piece to add to your collection of California Fractional Gold coinage, from the jewelry firm of Robert B. Gray and Company of San Francisco. This variety is from Period Two – Jeweler’s issues struck between 1859 and 1882. NGC has graded 5 as MS63PL with 3 finer. Collectors Universe prices this variety at $525.00 in MS63PL.

A well-made Liberty head design, inspired by the federal gold Liberty Head coinage of the day, decorates the obverse. The distinctive 'G' mintmark for ‘Gray’ is found below the Liberty Head. This is the Redbook Type Liberty Head and Date / Value and CAL in Wreath, Period 2. There are 13 stars around the Liberty head and the date 1870 is underneath. The bust points to 1st star; there is a tiara between 6th and 7th stars but closer to 6th. A small obverse crack is from the rim to 4th star. Same as BG-1023. The reverse says, ‘HALF DOLLAR CAL.’ Within a wreath. There is no bow and no berries upon the wreath. CCJ 21; EML 52; Burnie 86; Lee 38B; Doering 363A.

California Theatre San Francisco, circa 1870. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Gray and Company was located at 616 Merchant Street. It was in either the year 1858 or 1859 that Gray purchased the business of another San Francisco jeweler and fractional gold maker, Antoine Louis Nouzillet, including all of his dies, hubs, and punches. The year after the BG-1024 was produced, in 1871, Gray sold his enterprise to the Levinson Brothers/California Jewelry Company.