BG- 888, 1874 California Fractional Gold 25C, Indian Round PCGS MS64 R5+

This attractive specimen was struck by Christopher Ferdinand Mohrig, a German-born San Francisco jeweler. The obverse displays a striking Indian head motif upon a miniature golden planchet. Thirteen stars frame the Indian head and the date 1874 is below. The reverse displays an attractive wreath with berries, within which is found ‘1/4 DOLLAR.’ On August 10, 1876, Mohrig was arrested by the Secret Service for being in violation of the 1864 law against private coinage. His stock and dies were seized and melted.

PCGS has graded 19 examples of the BG-888 as MS65 with 16 finer. Collectors Universe gives this variety a price of $800.00 in MS64.

Panorama view of the City of San Francisco by Currier & Ives, 1878. Image: Wikimedia Commons.