The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-17

used for this sort of ornament. Most
of the coins subjected 10 this treatment
were rendered utterly worthless to the
coin collector. and the widespread mu-
tilation had the result of giving great
rarity to certain dates.
While the bangle fad has gone in
this country it is still regarded with
favor in Mexico. where the senoritas
year in and year out use bangles of
gold as standard ornament, and this
steady demand causes the increasing
price OF gold dollars, the commonest
of which are now worth $3.50 apiece.
The gold dollar was first issued by
this government in 1919. but several
varieties of gold dollars had previous
ly been coined IN the '30s by private
mint at Rutherford n. c. They bore
no date, but It is certain that they were
struck about 1884.
The first issue of these coins, known
as Bechtler dollars, from the name of
the owner of the mint, showed on the
diverse "Bechtler Rutherf." In the
field was T2S CT On the reverse was
Carolina Dollar" in the center being
the figure o.
The second variety bore "a. Becht-
Ter. l Dol" on the diverse. Carolina
Gold" was on the reverse, with "27 c.
q c." The third general type showed
the name of &C. Bechtler. Rutherf."
In the field was go c. On the other
side was IN. Carolina Gold. Dollar"
In the center was the word "One."
The first varieties are now worth
about 3d. the last is held at sS
The next gold dollar was struck
at the mint in 1886 as pattern coin.
On the diverse il had a radiant Liberty
cap bearing the word Liberty upon
the band. On the reverse around the
border was the inscription, United
States of America" Encircled by
palm branch was 81 D." The date
1895" was below.
The design was struck in gold, silver
and copper. A specimen in gold is
worth $50, while one i'm silver is valued
at SO.
In 1S49 the first dollar in gold was
issued by the mint I'm the form of
pattern coin. This specimen on the
diverse showed a laurel wreath sur
rounding o square hole. The reverse
bore the inscription 81 Dollar sur
rounded by thirteen stars. The edge of
the pattern coin was plain. A specimen
is now worth $50. The design was not
accepted, and the one now familiar
| then came into circulation.
The coin was too small for practical
use, and in 1854 it's size was increased
| by adding alloys, but the intrinsic
value of the gold remained the same.
| The new style also showed a change
| in design on the diverse, this being an
| Indian girls head with a plumed coro-
net
There are two sizes of the Indian
head. The coins bearing the small
| head were issued in 1855 by the Phila-
delphia, New Orleans and Dahlonega
minis. and in San Francisco in 1856. The
| larger head is borne by all the other
large-sized gold dollars up to 1889.
| The mint designers seemed to have
a fondness for the coin with a hole in
the center, for in 1852 four designs were
submitted to congress. The general de-
| sign of these four patterns showed a
| circular hole in the center, on the OBJ
verse being United States of Ameri-
ca, 1852" The words Ring Dollar
were on the reverse within a semi-cir-
| Gle of laurel sprigs.
Patterns of this style were struck in
| gold, silver. copper and nickel, but
none of them met with approval. One
of these 1852 patterns showed scroll
ornamentation around the center, and
| in gold this piece is worth $24.
| Another odd dollar came from the
mint in 1852. This bore ~. S. A, 1852, -
on the diverse and was struck over a
quarter eagle of 1889. The reverse had
seven small branches of olive, two Der
| ries and two leaves on each side. Like
the other pattern dollars. this oddity
had a hole in the center. When struck
| in gold this coin is worth $23.
A gold pattern dollar was struck i'm
1872, the last experimental coin Of this
denomination to come from the engrav-
ers. On the diverse is the head Of Lib
erty wearing a cap, on the band OF
which was inscribed Liberty" sur
| rounded by thirteen stars.
The reverse shows an eagle, with ar
rows in his right talon, while the left
supports a United States shield. across
which is a ribbon bearing the motto,
'In God We Trust" This coin was
also struck i'm copper.
At least twenty-five varieties of gold
dollars, all octagonal in form, were
| struck in California from 1853 to 1875
The majority of these coins. which were
composed of native gold. are of similar
design, that of the diverse showing the
head of Liberty, surrounded by thir-
teen stars.
The reverse had as the principal de-
| vice an eagle holding a scroll in its
/ beak. In the talons usually was an
! olive branch and in others a shield
| Some of the varieties bore an Indian
| head on the diverse and others showed
no date They are now worth from 81