Gold Dollar -> 1849-C Open Wreath

Vitae

  • Gold Dollars 1849 - 1859
  • Type One 1849 - 1853
  • Diameter: 13 millimeters
  • Fineness: .900
  • Weight: 26.8 grains
  • Designer: James B. Longacre
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Coiner: Emmor Graham

This variety is not only the rarest coin from the Charlotte Mint, it is one of the rarest (and most underpublicized) of all U.S. Gold coins In fact, the supposedly complete Louis Eliasberg collection of U.S. Gold coins (sold in October, 1982), was missing this variety. Only four are known to exist. One of these, which has been graded AU-55 by PCGS and which can be viewed on Charlottegold.com, traded hands a few years back for a significant six figure sum. Of the four known, one is in very low grade while another has not been seen in many years. No collection of Charlotte gold coins can truly be considered complete without the inclusion of this great rarity.

Condition Census

  1. Private collection, ex New Netherlands Coin Co. About Uncirculated-58. Later graded AU-58 by PCGS.
  2. North Georgia collection, obtained via private treaty sale from Winthrop Carner in 1995 for over $200,000, Kevin Lipton, Southern collection, New England Rare Coin Auctions 1982 FUN Sale (1/82): 1350 (at $50,000), private collection, Stack's Auction 79: 749 (at $90,000), Midwestern collector, unknown collector, James Kelly's 1956 ANA sale: 1571, Robert Schermerhorn collection, Charles Williams collection, B. Max Mehl's Belden Roach sale (2/8/44): 1083, Waldo Newcomer collection. The discovery coin; obtained by Newcomer sometime before 1933. Identifiable by a small lintmark near the ear of Liberty. Graded AU-55 by PCGS in 1995. This specimen is pictured on this site. It was also the plate coin for Doug Winters first edition of The Gold coins of the Charlotte Mint on page 19.
  3. Delaware collection, ex New England Rare Coin Galleries, 1978-1979. This coin, which I have never seen, is said to grade Extremely Fine.
  4. Private collection, ex Heritage Rare Coin Galleries (1997), ex California collection, obtained via private treaty sale from Winthrop Carner for a reputed $150,000, Elrod collection, Stack's 5/86: 1330, Pine Tree 9/74 GENA sale: 1952 (at $35,000), Charles Southwick, Leo Young, "McReynolds" (before 1956). Graded Fine-15 by NGC. Heavily scratched and showing traces of a mounting remnant to the right of the wreath. This coin was illustrated in the first edition of this book on page 18.

The existence of a fifth specimen is rumored but it remains unconfirmed.