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The 1853 California Fractional Gold Liberty Head Round, graded PCGS MS-63 (BG-428), represents a pivotal artifact of the Gold Rush era. PCGS has graded 31 as MS63 with 8 finer.
Struck privately during the chaotic 1850s when federal coinage lagged behind California’s booming economy, these diminutive pieces—this offering being 50 cents in face value—circulated as emergency currency among miners and merchants. The BG-428 variant, attributed to the Frontier & Co. jewelers, showcases precise craftsmanship despite its unofficial status.
Its obverse features a finely detailed Liberty head wearing a coronet surrounded by 13 stars, evoking contemporary U.S. coinage. The reverse displays the date 1853 within a wreath and “HALF DOL. CALIFORNIA GOLD” encircling the wreath.
The MS-63 grade denotes sharp strikes with minimal contact marks, retaining much original luster and subtle toning. As one of the most iconic California fractional issues, BG-428 exemplifies the ingenuity and desperation of a frontier economy, bridging private enterprise and public trust in a lawless monetary landscape.
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