BG- 875, 1874 California Fractional Gold 25C, Indian Round PCGS MS65 Prooflike

This attractive and more affordable example was manufactured by Christopher Ferdinand Mohrig, a German-born San Francisco jeweler. Please take a careful look at the images provided by AUCM of this beautiful piece. PCGS has grade 4 examples as MS65 Prooflike, with none finer. Collectors Universe gives this variety a price of $1,200.00 in MS65PL.

The Old San Francisco Mint was built in 1874, the year this offering from AUCM was struck. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

This 1874 gold Indian Head round is High Rarity-4, and was struck during period two (1859-1882) of the extensive California Fractional Gold series. It is the Redbook Type ‘Large Indian Head’ with the value and CAL within wreath. The obverse has 13 stars around the Indian Head near the rim and the date 1874 is below. The ‘7’ in 1874 is low and touches the rim. The reverse has 1/4 DOLLAR CAL in the wreath (with no period after CAL). The top leave turns down, and there is a berry just below the ‘C’ in CAL (Reverse “C”). Same as BG-872 and BG-874. Lee 45C; Doering 106B.