Charlotte Mint Gold Dollars
G$1 1853-C

Owner Comments:

The 1853-C gold dollar is scarce coin that is often found with a "rustic" appearance. The coin was often struck with rusty dies on poorly prepared planchets. Many pieces were poorly struck in the center with Ms. Liberty's hair lacking detail and the "OLLA" in "DOLLAR" and the "18" in the date weak. The vast majority of the survivors have been stripped of their original surfaces. Doug Winter estimates that there are 200 to 300 survivors with 75 to 100 pieces in AU condition and 15 to 25 Mint States examples.

The coin shown above was stuck with rusty dies, and the reverse displays an attached cud at 9 o'clock. This feature is noted by the recessed area at "ED" in "UNITED." This portion of the die broke away and was pushed up above the major part of the die surface. It is possible that a few 1853-C gold dollars exist with a full cud or lump in this area of the coin.

Despite the late die state, this piece is well struck with all of Ms. Liberty's hair well defined and the corresponding area of the reverse fully readable. The surfaces are original and have not been dipped or cleaned. As a result the piece has a fair amount of coppery toning and spotting. Although some collectors might find this piece to be unattractive, to the experienced southern gold collector, this coin is a thing of beauty.