Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
California Gold 25 Cent Piece, 1855 |
Object Name |
Coin |
Description |
California Gold 25 Cent Piece, 1855. Tiny octagonal gold piece is embossed on one side with the head of an American Indian wearing a headdress encircled by stars at the top with the year "1855" embossed below. The second side has a grizzly bear walking on all four legs between a half-circle wreath of California poppies. Above the bear is embossed the text, "California Gold / 1/4." |
Date |
1855 |
Creator |
Unknown |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
1972.038.1855 |
Dimensions |
H-0.5 W-0.5 inches |
Dimension Details |
.5 x .5 |
Collection |
3D - Exchange Media |
Inscription Text |
"1855" (embossed on one side); "California Gold / 1/4" (embossed on other side) |
Notes |
"During 1855, only $150,000 in United States small denomination silver coins were issued in California, with most being hoarded or exported. The need for smaller fractional denominations of gold coins may have been met by hundreds of varieties of small gold pieces in quarter, half, and dollar sizes. "Over 450 varieties are known to exist, some undated but most bearing dates between 1852 and 1882. Most are anonymous or identified only by initials, but research over the years has made it possible to attribute the majority of the issues to manufacturing jewelers in San Francisco, California and Leavenworth, Kansas; some may have been made in New York and New Orleans." [https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/california-fractional-gold-1852-1882/1659 11/01/2021] |
Search Terms |
California Money |
Subjects |
Money Gold California history |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Ernest D. Wenrick |