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HBCC #1012 – 1848 HBCC #1012 – 1848
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1848 "CAL." Liberty Quarter Eagle

HBCC#:
1012
Breen#:
6196
BD#:
n/a
Judd#:
n/a
Pollock#:
n/a

Sutter’s Mill in California was the site of 1848 gold discoveries, leading to the famous 1849 gold rush. Some of the earliest mined gold, 228 ounces that arrived in Philadelphia in December 1848, was prepared for coinage use. These quarter eagles were counter marked “CAL” to identify them as special coins struck from this gold. Estimates suggest 1,389 coins were so produced, with additional gold returned in the form of two gold bars. Today, perhaps 100 examples survive with possibly 20 in Mint-State quality.

Provenance:
From Stack's 1976 ANA Sale, August 1976, Lot 2804.
Obverse:
As preceding.
Reverse:
As preceding, but with CAL. counterstamped in incused letters directly below TES (STATES) and above the eagle's head.
Commentary:
Obverse: Die chatter at date. Reverse: CAL punched above eagle's head. Used as Master Die for regular issue dies.