Stack's Bowers Galleries is pleased to offer a magnificent selection of pioneer gold for your purchase consideration. Many of these coins represent the finest known specimens for type and in some cases for the entire issuing company. Several pieces have been off the market for decades, and a number of them carry distinguished pedigrees dating back over a century.

The opportunity to purchase these coins is strictly limited. For more information, contact Gene Nesheim today at 800.458.4646, ext. 219.

Tied for Finest Known
$1 K1 Bechtler

(1831-34) G$1 C Bechtler 30G (K.1) PCGS MS63 CAC – An exquisite example of the first Gold Dollar struck for use in the United States; tied with one other coin as finest known.  The present specimen features lightly frosted surfaces and splashes of original coppery toning.

$58,500.00

Redbook Plate
$2 1/2 K8 Bechtler

(1831-34) $2 1/2 C Bechtler 75G 20C Beaded Border (K.8) PCGS AU58 CAC – Former Redbook Plate Coin.  According to our census, this specimen is the finest strictly original example of this rare and sought-after variety.  It is highly lustrous for the assigned grade, with lovely orange-gold highlights and hints of dirt clinging to a few of the letters.  A very rare coin with only ten examples known. Ex: Guttag, Ryder

$92,500.00

(1837-42) $2 1/2 C Bechtler 67G 21C (K.10) PCGS MS62 CAC. – The second finest example of this rare and desirable Bechtler quarter eagle.  Only 34 examples of this variety have been graded at either service, with a mere ten uncirculated specimens known.  An exceptional example of this rare denomination

$47,500.00

(1831-34) $5 C Bechtler 150G 20C Beaded Border (K.15) PCGS AU55 – A condition census example of this very rare and desirable early issue Bechtler $5.  Fewer than 20 examples of this important type have been graded at either service, making the Kagin-15 one of the most sought after Bechtler half eagles.  Many of the remaining examples have minor problems, whereas this example is perfectly struck and exhibits superb original surfaces.

$96,500.00

Tied for Finest MS63 1853
Augustus Humbert $50 Gold Slug

1851 $50RE Humbert 887-Thousandths (K.6) NGC MS63 – Tied Finest Known!  A spectacular example of this always popular iconic Pioneer denomination.  Humbert slugs have long been a favorite among collectors of Pioneer Gold and are among the most romantic of all U.S. coins.  This specimen has full mint luster and attractive toning, with none of the heavy marks or edge damage that usually plague the issue.  Demand for these octagonal gold pieces has always outstripped supply and represent one of the best appreciating types of all pioneer gold pieces. An MS62 specimen brought $440,625 in a January Heritage auction. This is a terrific value at only...

$265,000.00

Finest Known U.S. Assay Office
1853 $20 .884 THOUS.

1853 $20 USAOG 884-Thous. (K.17) PCGS MS63. – The single finest example of this incredibly rare emergency issue from the United States Assay Office.  Due to a shortage of parting acids (to properly prepare .900 fine planchets), these coins were struck for only eight days in the Spring of 1853.  Today there are perhaps a couple dozen known pieces, most of which are in circulated grades.  This specimen exhibits fantastic luster and gorgeous original toning with very few marks for the assigned grade. It is far superior to the NGC 63 specimen we have seen

$225,000.00

Breathtaking Finest Known 1850 $10 Baldwin “Horseman”

1850 $10 Baldwin & Co. (K.3) NGC MS65. – The finest known example of Baldwin’s legendary Horseman $10; perhaps the best loved design in the entire Pioneer Gold series. The “horseman” or “vaquero” design is believed to have first appeared on the Kohler & Co. copper patterns several months earlier, and had been adopted from an early Gold Rush painting.
George C. Baldwin founded Baldwin & Company in March of 1850, after buying out Frederick Kohler’s firm.  Baldwin soon became one of the preeminent private gold coiners in San Francisco, striking $5s, $10s and $20s – denominations that were desperately needed during the early years of the gold rush. 
In March of 1851, San Francisco banker, gadfly and rival, James King of William published an assay by his friend U.S. Assayer, Augustus Humbert of Baldwin’s coins showing that the pieces contained about 97% of their face value.  Public outrage soon led to the rejection of Baldwin’s product, and Baldwin was forced to flee San Francisco.  Interestingly, assays conducted by the U.S. Mint listed Baldwin’s fineness at 99.6%, calling King of William’s numbers into question.
This gem specimen has long been considered the finest example of this important and popular type.  A great prize for the specialist in Pioneer Gold

$750,000

The Finest of Just Four Known (Two Extant) Pacific Company 1849 $5

1849 $5 Pacific Company NGC AU58+★. – The Pacific Company $5 is one of the great prizes of the entire Pioneer Gold series, but we know very little about the circumstances surrounding the emission of these beautiful, enigmatic coins.  It is most likely that the dies used to strike these pieces were commissioned by Boston Merchant John W. Cartwright, who formed the Pacific Company in January of 1849.  Members of the company arrived in California in September of 1849, disbanding in October, leaving some question as to whether they could have issued any coins at all.
To complicate matters, some Pacific Company issues have proven to be heavily debased – a contemporary assay at the US Mint showed a Pacific $10 contained $7.86 worth of gold, while a Pacific Gold Dollar was recently discovered that would have melted at .72 Cents.  Incredibly, there are reports of a Pacific Company Quarter Eagle containing less than 10% gold.  This pattern of debasement suggests that the dies may have fallen into the hands of a charlatan after members of the company went their separate ways.
This is the Finest of only four known-two of which are stolen/lost or impounded, and appears to be struck in undebased gold.  It is virtually fully lustrous and boasts gorgeous, original color, making it perhaps the single most exciting Pioneer Gold coin that we have ever handled in recent memory.  Ex: John Work Garrett, Johns Hopkins University, Kagin/Clifford Collection, Riverboat Collection

$950,000.00

The Unique 1855
$20 Wass Molitor Large Head

1855 $20 Wass Molitor & Co. Large Head (K.8a) NGC AU53 – In 1855, the newly opened San Francisco Mint was forced to halt production due to parting acid shortages.  The assaying firm of Wass, Molitor & Company stepped in to produce emergency coinage, just as they had during 1852.  The Eagles, Double Eagles and $50 Slugs produced by Wass Molitor during this period are all rare; however, the firm’s Large Head Double Eagles are among the rarest of all Pioneer Gold issues, and this is the Finest Known of a mere three examples in all accounted for at this time. 
Earlier this year, it was discovered that this specimen was struck using the same reverse die as Wass Molitor’s Small Head $20s – a comparison of this coin’s reverse to the other known Large Head $20 reverses confirms that this example is UNIQUE.  In the entire Pioneer Gold series, there are only two other issues that are known by a single example: The Norris Gregg Norris Stockton $5 and the Cincinnati $5, both of which are in the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution. As the only unique pioneer type extant, no one can possibly complete a major type set of pioneer gold without this coin. As one of the greatest pioneer gold rarities, this is an incredible opportunity that may not be available again for decades. Ex: O.P.Hayes, DeWitt Smith, Virgil Brand,Belden Roach,Frederic W. Geiss,Charles Williams, Amon Carter

$795,000.00

Tied for Second Finest
1855 $50 Wass, Molitor & Co.

1855 $50 Wass Molitor (K.9) NGC MS63 – Tied with one other example as the second finest known!   $50 slugs were an essential part of commerce during the California Gold Rush, and choice examples are always hard to locate, but for some reason, Wass, Molitor & Co.  slugs prove to be among the hardest to find without significant problems – many are weakly struck, repaired or dipped.  The present specimen is an astonishing exception to this rule: its surfaces are pristine with deep, original toning and plenty of luster.  It is also fully struck – a real rarity for the issue. There are only two pioneer round $50; the extremely rare Proof 1855 $50 Kellogg & Co. coins and these.

$465,000.00

Tied for Second-Finest Known
Mormon 1849 $2 1/2

1849 $2 1/2 Mormon (K.1) NGC MS62 – Tied with one other coin as second finest known.  An attractively toned and lustrous specimen of this scare Mormon issue.  The dies used to strike these coins were not properly hardened, and about 2/3rds of the known examples have weak details on the reverse coupled with a partial date.  This example is from an early state of the dies and exhibits full detail.  The Mormons were the first to mine the gold from California and strike privately issued coins. These pieces are among the most sought after of all regular, let alone pioneer, gold coinage. This demand plus the unique designs have made these coins some of the most appreciated in numismatics.

$132,500.00

Second Finest
1850 $5 Mormon

1850 $5 Mormon (K.5) NGC MS61+ – Second finest known.  The finest example of this issue that we have handled or seen in the last decade.  The population reports show four examples of the issue in MS61 with only one coin finer, but our records suggest that one or two of these is a resubmission.  This specimen is highly lustrous and has attractive original color with very few abrasions to note.  This issue has long been our favorite value among the Mormon half eagles and we doubt that we will have the opportunity to handle one of this quality again any time soon.

$94,500.00

For more information, contact Gene Nesheim today at 800.458.4646, ext. 219.