1848 $2 1/2 CAL. -- Genuine -- Cleaned -- ANACS. ...

Description

1848 CAL. Quarter Eagle
America's First Commemorative Coin
Classic California Gold Rush Rarity

1848 $2 1/2 CAL. -- Genuine -- Cleaned -- ANACS. We have determined that this piece has AU Details and has been Cleaned. This coin nevertheless poses a marvelous bidding opportunity for some fortunate collector to own an important piece of American numismatic history from the California Gold Rush. The 1848 CAL. quarter eagles were all hand-stamped with the CAL. on reverse to signify they were the first U.S. coins struck from the newly mined gold brought back to Philadelphia for analysis.

It is absolutely correct to say that these coins, probably more so than any other, were the impetus both for the foundation of the provisional branch mint in the form of the U.S. Assay Office of Gold under the auspices of Moffat & Co., as well as for the later establishment of the San Francisco Mint in 1854.

The 1848 CAL. quarter eagles are considered by most numismatists including the present cataloger to be the nation's first commemorative coins, although they are not the first custom-designed commemorative issue. Needless to say, this piece, which we have determined has AU Details, is a coin with an immense amount of "meat on the bones" despite a light cleaning at some time in the past. The surfaces are an attractive medium orange-gold with light high-point wear; a thin scrape shows just below Liberty's eye, running across the profile, and another thin mark is at the lower bust truncation. Other scattered marks are consistent with our AU Details assessment.

The reverse is relatively free of singular marks, and the CAL. shows boldly beneath TES. The strike throughout both sides is bold. An exciting bidding opportunity.
From the collection of Donald E. Bently, sold for the benefit of the Bently Foundation.

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.