Calif gold: 1871 1/4 dollar w/G mint mark

Calif gold: 1871 1/4 dollar w/G mint mark

Post by Jonathan Prat » Wed, 17 Jul 1996 04:00:00



Quote:

> Can anyone tell me who may have minted this coin, and maybe it's
> approximate value?

> It's a gold 1871 California 1/4 dollar: it says 1/4 Dollar Calif. on obverse,
> with a large liberty head w/date on the inverse.  The mint mark (also on
> inverse) is a "G", with another "G" superimposed on it.  The only coins
> like this I can find in coin price guides have an "H" mint mark.  It's
> uncirculated with original mint luster.

> Thanks,
> Bob Stegmann


Bob,
This is a long shot but this sounds like a 25 cent piece manufactured by
New York firm, Gaime, Guillemot & Co.  Pattern was made by Fontier and
Divercy.  Generally struck from unrefined  native gold-silver alloy.  In
the years 1859 on these coins were generally made as souvenirs and for
use in jewlery.  Approximately 15,000 pieces of CA small gold are
estimated to exist, in 500 varities.  True MS-65 coins are very rare and
command high premiums.  The later period gold(as you have) that were used
as souveniers and not as circulating currency tend to be of lower value.
 For further information consult: Walter Breen and R.J. Gillo,
"California Pioneer Fractional Gold", 1983.
Hope this helps,
Jon
 
 
 

Calif gold: 1871 1/4 dollar w/G mint mark

Post by Mike Lock » Thu, 18 Jul 1996 04:00:00


Quote:


>> Can anyone tell me who may have minted this coin, and maybe it's
>> approximate value?

>> It's a gold 1871 California 1/4 dollar: it says 1/4 Dollar Calif. on obverse,
>> with a large liberty head w/date on the inverse.  The mint mark (also on
>> inverse) is a "G", with another "G" superimposed on it.  The only coins
>> like this I can find in coin price guides have an "H" mint mark.  It's
>> uncirculated with original mint luster.

Based on the date, the repunched G and the liberty head:

Assuming that it says 1/4 DOLLAR CAL inside of a wreath, there is 13
small, badly placed stars around the liberty head, the 7 in the date
nearly touches the rim while the 1 in the date is high and badly
placed, you have BG838.  This is one of the more common "period two"
California fractional gold coins.  The manufacturer is not 100% certain
but Breen guessed that this was made in the year on the coin by
Robert Gray from tooling created by Antoine Louis Nouizillet in the
early 1850s.  A nice uncirculated piece should be worth about $250.
Oh yes, I assumed that the coin is round.

Quote:
>This is a long shot but this sounds like a 25 cent piece manufactured by
>New York firm, Gaime, Guillemot & Co.  Pattern was made by Fontier and
>Divercy.  Generally struck from unrefined  native gold-silver alloy.  In
>the years 1859 on these coins were generally made as souvenirs and for
>use in jewlery.  Approximately 15,000 pieces of CA small gold are
>estimated to exist, in 500 varities.

Jay Roe has 600 vars in his collection.

Quote:
>True MS-65 coins are very rare and command high premiums.

An exaggeration.  I've found that in the smaller pieces the price
difference for MS60 vs MS65 is around 2x; a much smaller difference
than for most US coins.

Quote:
>The later period gold(as you have) that were used
>as souveniers and not as circulating currency tend to be of lower value.
> For further information consult: Walter Breen and R.J. Gillo,
>"California Pioneer Fractional Gold", 1983.

Hee, hee, he.  You have to find a copy of this book to be able to use
it as a reference.  I begged and pleaded and got Gillio's last copy.
I know of a book dealer that has one listed for $185 (this is a 160
page paper back).  Maybe one can find a coin dealer that has a copy
that you can look at, although it is not unknown for such copies to
have been stolen.

--

                  Most things worth doing aren't easy.

Mike is EAC #4357, LSCC #1636, JRCS, ANA #R-170301

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