The sun., 1907-08-11
NORTH CAROLINA GOLD COINS
ISSUED nv THE BECHTLERS IN
THE '3OS AND ,iOS.


COINED From GOId Mined IN North
Carolina aBd Georgia -One ~ 80 Piece
Has Sold for s7SO--sOme other Prices.
The gold coins Of North Carolina are now
attracting much attention from collectors.
with the result that the premiums on these
distiDctively American coins are advancing
rapidly, but even the attractive prices paid
recently for specimens offered for sale have
not had the effect Of bringing additional
pieces from boarding places. This goes to
show, say collectors. that North Carolina
coins are much scarcer than was supposed.
When, during the sos. the gold produced
by the mines Of North Carolina and Georgia
began to form the principal source Of the
gold supply Of the United States nuggets
were used as a circulating medium through
out the adjoining States. The gold in these
nuggets varied greatly in fiaeness. and the
Government sought TO protect the people
by establishing assay Offices near the princi-
pal mines. These assayers produced many
varieties Of gold coins Of crude design.
.stamped with the number Of grains and the
fineness. and by this means gave each coin
a DEFINITE value.
Christopher Bechtler. an assayer. estab-
lshed an Office at Rutherfordton. N. c.. in
1881 which continued operations for nearly
twenty years and coined gold pieces Of the
denominations Of 81, $3.50 and IS. Very
little information can be obtained as to the
production OF coins at this Office. but a re-
port OF the superintendent Of the United
States Mint at Charlotte in is4O contains
the statement that Mr.. Bechtler's ooks
showed that from January, 1881. to Feb
ruaTy. 1870. there had been coined at Ruther-
fordton s2,241 .S40.5O worth OF gold and
during the same period he had melted ,72e.-
99s dwt.. 80 that IL is estimated that $685.
$40 in gold bullion had passed through MIR.
Bechtler's hands in the nine years.
OF the Bechtler series of coins there we're
twenty-three or more varieties. these being
composed of three grades of gold %. 2i and
% carats-which were stamped respectively
North Carolina, Carolina" and Georgia"
1t Is not thought that any gold used in these
coins was produced in Georgia, the stamp
merely designatin the grade of gold.
Georgia gold always being Of a better quail
ity than that produced by the mines Of
North Carolina. That name was placed on
% carat coins
The Becbtler coins can he divided into
three general classe s-those bearing the
name of -Bechtler. a second type with the
name Of &C. Bechtler" and third and last
with the name of "A. Bechtler." There can
he no certainty as TO the year Of the issue Of
each variety, as with the exception OF the
coins struck in 1884 none Of the IN ives dated.
OF the first divi sion are two denomina-
tions-sl and $3.50. There is but one va
riety Of the 81 gold piece OF this series. The
design. which was very crude and stamped
upon a thin sheet of circular gold. with a
wire edge. showed on the diverse the in
scrption "Bechtler Rutherf." In the field
was inscribed -2S g." On the reverse are
the words Carolina Dollar" around the bor-
der and the word "One" in the centre in
capital letters. All the gold dollars Of this
variety were 81 oarats fine, the intrinsic
value being % cents. This is one Of the
common issues and is now valued by col
ectors at from 81 to s.. according to its con-
dition.
There were three varieties Of the s2.5O
pieces. The design on the diverse Of these
was the same on all. showing -Bechtler
Rutherfo. with $3.50" in the field. On the
reverse of the first variety Of this denomina-
ton was Carolina Gold" around the border.
with 80 @. 20 Carats" in the fisld. The gold
in this coin was of fineness of S33 nd had a n
intrinsic value of s247 1t is worth very much
more than that to collectors, however. as
much as $50 having been paid for fine speci-
men.
The second variety of $3.50 riece showed
the same design as the foregoing. except
that in the field was inscribed -87 q. Fl
Cerats." This is held at about the same
value.
The third variety Of the pieces Of the de-
- L..
Gold around the border and -84 g. -
Carats" in the field. 1t contained. gold Of a
fineness of DIT. valued at $3.50. There are
two minor varieties Of the latter design
which are now worth about $50 each. None
Of the coins in the above se rie 8 bore a date.
The second division of the North Carolina
gold coins all bore the name &C. Bechtler"
and embraced denominations of 81, 81. so
and IS, including quite n number of varie-
ties. or the dollar piece there were two
types with a few minor varieties. none
of which bore a date. The first dollar
showed on the diverse around the border
&C. Bechtler Rutherf." with -sOG.' in the
were the words IN. Carolina Gold Dollar,
with the word -0ne" in the field On
another minor variety OF this coin is a
different form OF the word "One." The
existence Of this last named variety of the
dollar is problematical. although it has
type showed the same general design,
except that in the field. of the diverse
was -2sG." All OF these dollar pieces are
more rare than those Of the first mentioned
division. being worth from 81 to $40 each to
collectors.
There were four varieties OF the $3.50
piece of the second series. One showed
the inscription around the border OF the
diverse OF &c. Bechtler. Assayer. Ruther-
ford" On the reverse was North Carolina
Gold" with -2.50 20 c. rs G. in the field.
A fine specimen of this coin. probably the
rarest of the whole series, brought a record
premium OF $3.50 at the Stickney sale few
days ago.
The second variety had the same general
design, but with -2CC" en- the reverse. At
the Elder. sale In this city some weeks past
a new high record price Of $40 was paid
for this piece. The fourth variety had
the same general design. but with the
diverse showing -75G" and the reverse
-2OC." This piece has often been referred
to, but the leading collector OF Bechtler
coins does not possess a specimen.
Up to 1884 Mr.. Pechtler produced a
variety of s. gold piece which weighed
$50 grains, of 20 carats, or OF a flneress
Of s33, which was worth intrinsically IS. 81.
The design of this piece showed on the
diverse &C. Bechtler Rutherford" on the