BG- 887, 1881 California Fractional Gold 25C, Indian Round NGC MS66 R3
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SKU
4658138003
This variety was issued by Christopher Mohrig, a German-born jeweler in San Francisco. The obverse features a well-crafted Indian head facing left wearing a full eagle feather bonnet. Surrounded by 13 stars, the date 1881 is found below. The reverse presents an intricately designed wreath with berries, tied together with a bow at the bottom center. Within the wreath is inscribed "1/4 DOLLAR." For more specific details about this variety, please see below. NGC has graded 6 of the BG-877 as MS66 with none finer. Collectors Universe gives this variety a price of $1,300.00 in MS66.
It was on August 10, 1876, that Mohrig was arrested by the Secret Service for violating the 1864 law against private coinage. His stock and dies were seized and melted, which may explain the rarity of his earlier varieties. However, this variety was produced well after that time, and is a more affordable option for the California Fractional Gold collector.
Illustration of San Francisco Bay Area in 1881, the year this Christopher Mohrig variety was struck. Image: Wikipedia.
1881 Gold 25C Indian Head Round, Rarity-3.
- Period Two – Jeweler’s issues struck between 1859 and 1882.
- Redbook Type: Large Indian Head / Value in Wreath
- RedBook Collectors Sequence: RB-020
- Made by Christopher Ferdinand Mohrig.
Obverse: 13 stars, 1881 around and below large Indian head. Stars are all even sized. The 13th star is joined by a line to the bottom feather. The date touches the rim .
Reverse: 1-4 DOLLAR (no CAL) within a wreath. A leaf joins the tail of the R. Reverse “G”.
EML 85; Burnie 132; Lee 53A; Doering 112.
| PCGS # | 10748 |
|---|---|
| BG Number | 887 |
| Grading Service | NGC |
| Year of Issue | 1881 |
| Grade | MS66 |
| Denom Type | California Fractional Gold |
| Numeric Denomination | Gold 25C |
| Mint Location | Private Issue |
| Designation | NONE |
| Circ/UnCirc | Uncirculated |
| Strike Type | Business |
| Holder Variety | BG-887 |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
| Holder Type | N/A |
