Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15

The record price of $500 was paid re-
Gently for a specimen Of the territorial
S. gold piece, struck soon after the
great gold discoveries in California.
This coin was issued by Shultz & Co.
of San Francisco In 1851. It is about
the same size and weight as a United
States half eagle and is the only issue
of the company whose name It bears.
on the diverse is the head of Liberty
facing to the left, around which are
thirteen stars. Below Is the date, 1881"
The cornet on Libertys head bears the
name "Shultz & CO." An eagle, hold
ing arrows and a laurel branch in its
talons, is the principal device on the
reverse, surrounded by the inscription,
Pure California Gold Five D."
The next rarest IS California gold
piece was issued by the Pacific COM
pany in 1S49. The piece shows an
eagle with outstretched wings on the
diverse, holding in its talons a laurel
branch, with the date underneath.
Around the border is Inscribed "Pacific
Company, California" on the reverse,
taking up the whole field, is a radiated
Liberty cap, with stars between each
radiation Underneath is "5 Dollars"
only three specimens of this design are
known, and one Of them has brought
$500.
Another rare $5 piece shows the head
of Liberty on the diverse facing to the
left. Around st are thirteen stars,
while at the bottom is the date 1851"
Upon the cornet is the name of the is
suing firm Dunbar & Co" The re-
verse shows an eagle holding arrows
and a laurel branch in his talons.
Around the border is inscribed IS. M.
", California Gold. Five Dol" Only
one specimen of this coin is known,
which is valued at $3.50.
Next comes the half eagle coined by
the Massachusetts, and California COM
pany. This is far more pretentious in
design than the foregoing, the diverse
showing a shield bearing a mounted
side of the shield is an upright bear
and deer. At the bottom of the shield
is the word alta" The whole design
is encircled by thirteen stars. On the
reverse, within the wreath, is Five
D." while around the border is "Massa-
chusetts & California Co., 1S49." This
coin would bring high premium If Of
fered for sale.
Th S. gold piece of Baldwin & Co.
sign, around which are thirteen stars,
with the date 1850" at the bottom. On
the coronet is the name Baldwin &
Co.." while the reverse bears the
words, rs. M ", California Gold. Five
D." This is valued at $11O0.
The S. gold coin issued by the Gin
cinnati Mining and Trading company
shows the bust of an Indian facing to-
the left on the diverse, surrounded by
the name of the company. On the re-
verse is an eagle flying to the left,
holding a shield, arrows and sprigs of
laurel. This coin is highly valued
Still another half eagle was issued
by Norris, Griggs & Norris of San
Francisco. This shows on the diverse
an eagle with outstretched wings hold
ing arrows and laurel branch. A fig
ure is on a shield borne on the eagles
breast. Around the border is inscribed
California Gold Without Alloy" The
reverse shows the date "1S49" in the
center. At the top of this and within
circle of twenty-five stars are the
initials IN. G. & NJ" At the bottom is
San Francisco" around the border
the words Full Weight of Half
Eagle" A fine specimen of this de-
sign is worth $50.
The half eagle of Dubosq & Co. shows
a Liberty head on the diverse with
"Dubosq &, Co." on the coronet The
reverse bears an eagle holding arrows
and a laurel wreath. The inscription
around the edge is IS. M. ", Califor-
MIA Gold Five D." The only known
specimen of this variety is said to be
in the United States mint and is valued
at $100.
The Columbus company issued half
eagle in 1S49. On the diverse is the
name columbus Company" In the
field is the date "1849." Within a
double circle on the reverse is the fig
ure "5' with Dolls" below.
Other $5 gold pieces which are not so
rare but worth about double face value
when in fine condition are those issued
by Wass, Molitor & Co., California, in
1852, and the three varieties of this de-
nomination issued by Moffatt & Co.,
California.
OF the $40 gold coins of California
the rarest is the one struck by the
Pacific company, which is the counter
part of the S. piece. Only two speci-
mems of this variety are on record, one
of which has sold for $420.
The next is the eagle of ]. S. Ormsby,
California. On the diverse in the CEN
ter are the initials a. S. o." Around
the border is the inscription United
States of America Cal" On the re-
verse is inscribed in two lines 40
Dolls" All around the border is a