Gold Dollars
The History Of U.S. Gold Coins
Twelve years after the U.S. declared independence from Great Britain ending the Revolutionary War, the first U.S. gold coins were minted and produced in 1795. The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia was established just a few years prior in 1792. President George Washington appointed David Rittenhouse as the 1st Director of the U.S. Mint, and under Rittenhouse was the 1st engraver of the U.S. Mint, Robert Scot, who served as chief engraver from 1793 until 1823.
The first gold coins struck at the U.S. Mint and engraved by Robert Scot were Eagles and Half Eagles, in both $10 and $5 denominations. These coins were also known as ‘Draped Bust’, for the design on the obverse side of the coin which depicted a woman. The $2.5 Quarter Eagles ‘Draped Bust’ followed in 1796. Draped Bust gold coins minted between 1795 and 1807 were produced in very limited numbers. The first U.S. gold coins ever minted are quite rare, and unfortunately many of these gold coins were exported to other countries throughout Europe and melted down when the coin purity exceeded the face value.
Following the Draped Bust gold coins was the production of the Caped Bust gold coins which were originally introduced in 1807. The first Caped Bust was introduced in the $5 coin denomination. These coins saw very limited mintage much like its predecessor, however, thousands more were produced and saw much more circulation than the Draped Bust. In 1908, the $2.5 denomination was minted, and both denominations were produced every year until mintage of the Caped Bust coins was discontinued forever in 1838.
1848 marked one of the most historical years in U.S. history with the start of the California Gold Rush. It was initiated by James W. Marshall at Sutter’s Mills, California, when a colleague of Marshall’s discovered gold at the mill accidently. The news quickly spread across the country and overseas which brought 300,000 people to settle in California from both the Eastern states as well as from other countries to pan for gold.
With the U.S. gold supply greatly increasing from California, the U.S. Mint established a branch in San Francisco. From 1838 until 1908, the $5 Liberty Head gold coin was produced and had the longest mintage run of any U.S. gold coin to date. The $10 Liberty Head and $2.5 Liberty Head gold coins were both minted for nearly the same amount of time, with mintage discontinued in 1907. Several other gold coins were minted between 1840 and 1900, including the Three-dollar gold coin, the $4 Stella gold coin (both in very limited mintage), the Gold Dollar.
The $20 Saint Gaudens gold coin was originally minted in 1907, and was the first time a sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, was hired outside of the U.S. Mint to design a coin. Along with the Saint Gaudens, the Indian Head gold coins were minted during the same period in $2.5 (1908-1929), $5 (1908-1929), & $10 (1907-1933) coin denominations. Mintage of the Saint Gaudens lasted until 1933 when Executive Order 6102 was executed and the gold confiscation act began forbidding the hoarding of gold by U.S. citizens.
Pre-1933 gold coins are very rare, and it is estimated that only 1% of these rare coins survived the gold confiscation act of 1933 in which most coins were melted down. Today, the surviving pre-1933 gold coins are considered the most prudent part of a portfolio, whether considering buying gold as an investment or adding it to a collection. Gold was illegal to own in the United States until 1974. Since that time, the U.S. mint has been producing gold bullion coins, such as the American Eagle which was first minted in 1986 and the Gold Buffalo coin, minted in 2006 which was the first 24 karat gold bullion coin produced by the U.S. Mint.
GOLD VS DOLLAR
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What Has Government Done to Our Money? and The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar $17.00 The Mises Institute is pleased to present this very beautiful hardbound edition of Rothbard’s most famous monetary essay–the one that has influenced two generations of economists, investors, and business professionals. The Mises Institute has united this book with its natural complement: a detailed reform proposal for a 100 percent gold dollar. The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar was writte… |
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Gold Bubble: Profiting From Gold’s Impending Collapse $19.00 How do TV shows, vending machines, Chinese taxi companies, and a former UK prime minister point to a gold bubble that is about to burst?Many investors consider gold a “safe haven” that will shelter them from recessions, falling markets, and the depreciating value of currency. Many fail to realize, however, that investing in gold at these levels is extremely risky. “We Buy Gold” stores line busy st… |
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Buy Gold Now: How a Real Estate Bust, our Bulging National Debt, and the Languishing Dollar Will Push Gold to Record Highs $7.94 Masterfully researched, and written in a straightforward style, Buy Gold Now makes a case for buying gold as protection against the rising risks of an unprecedented global currency crisis and as a profitable investment vehicle. Divided into five comprehensive parts, this reliable resource examines our country’s current financial situation from a historical perspective and addresses some of the a… |
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Littleton Presidential Dollar Folder-2007-2016 $1.99 Presidential Dollar Series P&D Collection Color Folder. Holds the Philadelphia and Denver Mint issues of each dollar design. Has a colorful glossy cover with 4 inner fold-out panels. It is also filled with exciting facts! This folder measures: 7.5 x 10 when folded…. |
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Maui Jim Sand Dollar R216-16 $269.73 Maui Jim – Sand Dollar Gold/Maui Rose Sunglasses in Metal (MJ-R216-16)… |
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Playing Cards Deck in 999.9 Gold Plating Unusual Gift for Dad $97.99 Playing cards deck in 999.9 purity golden foil make unusual gift for every occasion for men as well as women. The cards have 100 Dollar image on one side. Packed in an elegant solid brown box, these cards come with manufacturer’s certificate on the purity of gold. Playing cards in golden foil could make a memorable gift for your near and dear ones…. |
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1967 KENNEDY HALF DOLLAR $4.83 The 1967 Kennedy Half Dollar was minted during the transition years following 1964, the last year that the US Mint minted 90% silver common coinage. Although the quarter and dime forever became silver free “sandwich coins”, for five years the Kennedy Half Dollar was minted containing 40% silver (for a net content of about .171 Troy Oz pure silver per coin). It is desirable both for collectibility … |
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2010 D Mint Sacagawea Native American Golden Dollar Uncirculated Coin $0.01 New, Uncirculated 2010 D Sacagawea Native American Dollar Coin. You will receive one uncirculated dollar from Denver Mint. This coin is brilliant and uncirculated. It is mounted in a 2X2 cardboard mylar holder. Not proof coin. Uncirculated coins may vary to some degree because of blemishes, toning or slight imperfections.Bonus: If you make more than one purchase in the same order you will receive … |
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