Rare Gold Coins

Gold Dollars ($1.00) 1849-1889

Coinage of the gold dollar was authorized by the Act of March 3, 1849. The weight was 25.8 grains, fineness .900. The first type, struck until 1854, us known as the Liberty Head or small-sized type.

In 1854 the piece was made larger in diameter and thinner. The design was changed to a feather headdress on a female, generally referred to as the Indian Head or large-sized type. In 1856 the type was changed slightly by enlarging the size of the head.

Designer: James B. Longrace
Weight: 1.672 grams
Composition: .900 gold, .100 copper
Diameter: 13mm Type One and 15mm Types Two and Three
Reeded edge
Mints: Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans and San Francisco
Net weight: .04837 oz. pure gold