BG- 874, 1873 California Fractional Gold 25C, Indian Round NGC MS64PL Unique Mint Error
This unusual—and quite rare—specimen would be perfect for the specialist of California Fractional Gold coinage who would like to include a unique mint error in his or her collection. It was struck in a popular year, 1873, one that Harry X Boosel made famous during the 1960s. Boosel was a Chicago numismatist and author who collected and wrote exclusively about the coins of 1873. This variety was struck by C.F. Mohrig, a San Francisco jeweler. The obverse bears a well-crafted Indian head reminiscent more of Civil War tokens than the ever-present Indian Head cent of the 1870s.
NGC has only graded 6 examples of the BG-874 variety. Of those, there is one in MS64PL with 3 finer. 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 varieties such as this one. Please see below for more specific details about this rare variety.
The Clay Street Hill Railroad was the first cable car in San Francisco. It first operated in 1873, the year this unique example was struck. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Unique Mint Error.
1873 Gold 25C Indian Head Round, Low Rarity-6. This error variety is UNIQUE.
- Period Two – Jeweler’s issues struck between 1859 and 1882.
- Redbook Type: Large Indian Head / Value & CAL in Wreath
- Made by Christopher Ferdinand Mohrig.
Obverse: 13 stars, 1873. around and below large Indian head. 7th star to right of 3rd feather of coronet. Same as BG-873.
Reverse: 1-4 DOLLAR CAL within wreath (no period after CAL).Top leaves turn down ; a berry immediately below the C in CAL Reverse “C”. Same as BG-872.
Doering 105C.
PCGS # | 10735 |
---|---|
BG Number | 874 |
Grading Service | NGC |
Year of Issue | 1873 |
Grade | MS64 |
Denom Type | California Fractional Gold |
Numeric Denomination | Gold 25C |
Mint Location | Private Issue |
Designation | PL |
Circ/UnCirc | Uncirculated |
Strike Type | Proof-Like |
Holder Variety | BG-874 |
Grade Add On | NONE |
Holder Type | N/A |