1836 Gold Dollar

HBCC#:

6006

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

67

Pollock#:

70

Borrowing elements from Mexican coinage, this design features a Liberty cap on the obverse, surrounded by a glory of rays. The word LIBERTY is inscribed on the band at the base of the cap. A wreath on the reverse encircles the denomination, with the date and statutory legend following the border. Examples were struck in 90% gold and also in silver with dies by Christian Gobrecht. This proposed denomination had a fate similar to that of the 1836 two-cent coinage, with the proposing article dropped from the bill before passage of the Coinage Act of January 1837.

Provenance:

From Lester Merkin's sale of April 17, 1970, Lot 612.

Obverse:

A Liberty or Phrygian cap surrounded by a glory or sunburst, LIBERTY on band around cap.

Reverse:

A coiled palm frond encircles 1 D., UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the circumference, date below the frond.

Commentary: