The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-28

It was in California that the greatest variety and number of these coins were struck, due no doubt, to the enormous amount of metal produced. At no period in the history of our nation do we find more picturesque, historical or romantic background than the California of 1899. The great achievement of these hardy and courageous pioneers who blazed the trail against all odds to open up vast new country is really an inheritance and most splendid example for every true American.
 Through the medium of present. day scenario and fiction writers the picture and story of the pioneer is viyidly brought to us. We may still sec the covered wagon, stage-coach, and pony express. We may still witness the hardships these people endured, the misfortunes, the brighter side, sudden wealth, love, romance, and the fascination of 1t all. While we do not see these things in reality, we do, however, as numismatists, preserve that which is real and appropriately emblem atic of the pioneer. refer, of course to the private issues of gold which are SO scarce today and cherished so much by the numismatist.
 Began In North Carolina
 In my attempts to discuss terri torial and private issues of gold in the United States, I wish to state that with the exception of Ephriam Brasher, New York jeweler who in the year 1787 coined the Crashed doubloon,, the coinage of these private issues began in this country not much earlier than the year 1881. The mines of North Carolina and Georgia were at that time the lar gest producers of gold in this coun- try and it was in North Carolina that these first important private issues of gold were coined.
 At first much of the gold mined in North Carolina was shipped to Europe. Some, of course, was manu- factured into jewelry and it appears evident that a portion of it was used as medium of exchange in the various producing areas. The important localities of this gold-producing area were in Ruth erford County and until the time of the California gold discovery in 1848, this section of the United States remained a gold-producing center of real consequence.
 Bechtlers Arrive
 It was in 1880 that Christopher Bechtler, accompanied by two of his sons, Augustus and Charles, and a nephew, Christopher Bechtler, Jr., came to Authorization, North Caro- lina. The Bechtlers were natives of Germany, where Christopher Becht- Ter, ST., and Augustus had earned the reputation of being expert jewellers, metallurgists and gun smiths.
 The Bechtlers were established in Rutherfordton a comparatively short time when the elder Bechtler. who had opened jewelry store in the community, realized the need for 8 circulating medium other than gold dust.
 Under the existing conditions of this period it appears that business deals and especially transactions with the bank were made extremely difficult. It also appears that Con- greSS had been requested to favor the establishment of a branch mint in this section, but apparently no favorable action was taken by the government in response to this ap- peal until 1885 at which time au- thorization was given for establish ment of mint at Charlotte. The mint did not begin coining, however, until 1888. With the above facts in mind and having the encourage ment and support of many of the influential men of this region, Christopher Bechtler, ST., began preparations for the coining ot gold. It was necessary, of course, to first manufacture the machinery and dies and it appears that the BechtlerS did this work.
 First Coins Minted
 The first coins struck by the Bechtlers were $250 and $5 varieties. Although the $1 denomination was struck at a later date, the distinc- ton of coining the first one-dollar gold pieces ever struck in the United States belongs to the Bechtlers, as the regular United States gold dol lars were not released for circula- ton until 1849.
 Early Bechtler coins of the same denominations were often different sizes and weights, due to the fact that the exact amount of gold was ,.-nA Az s..nyr~ &fsn-a .nfxae uraxf stsa