Whitman Expo
1849 Mass & Cal, 16 Berry Rev. 5 Dollar Gold MS K-1 Values
Details
The Massachusetts & California Company half eagle is among the rarest and most elaborately designed of all Pioneer Gold issues. Today, we know of only three gold Massachusetts and California $5s from this pair of dies, two of which reside in private collections. The finest known example is Choice Mint State and was struck from an early state of neatly polished dies, suggesting that it may have been intended as a pattern.
Obverse: Vaquero surmounted by an arm holding an arrow with a bear and stag on either side above a ribbon inscribed ALTA, 13 stars around
Reverse: FIVE D. wreath with 16 berries around MASSACHUSETTS & CALIFORNIA CO. 1849
Mint & Coinage Details
Mint Location:
Northhampton, Massachussetts
Mintage:
2 known
Coinage Type:
Private & Pioneer Gold
Coinage Years:
1849
Composition:
Gold
Varieties and Classification
Variety:
Mass & Cal, 16 Berry Rev.
Variety 2:
K-1
Rarity:
R-H8
Physical Characteristics
Strike Type:
Business
Coin Shape:
Round
Design Details
Obverse Lettering:
ALTA
Reverse Lettering:
FIVE D., MASSACHUSETTS & CALIFORNIA CO., 1849
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