The gold rush to California led to the issuance of a number of Gold coins to meet the needs of the mining areas, until the opening of the San Francisco and Carson City Mints .. in the collection is a 1852 U.S. Assay Office Ten Dollar Gold Piece in Choice VF 35 certified by PCGS ( acquired from A. Terrernova in 1991).

In the 1830's the first Gold Strikes in America occurred in Georgia and Carolina .. to address the need for coinage in the area, private companies issued gold coinage from the newly discovered bullion .. the collection includes a "Bechtler Dollar" issued in 1830 in Choice XF 45 certified by PCGS  ( acquired from Mr. Kagin in 1992) .. this was the first Gold Dollar size coin issued .. unusual is the "N" in One was reversed.

The shortage of change also resulted in gold being privately minted for use in small denomination " Fractional Gold " coins such as a Quarter, Half and Dollar .. reps for this group include a 1880 Indian 1/4 Dol. in BU and a 1853 Liberty Round 1/2 Dol. in BU. ( photo is 1/4 gold from the Jay Roe Collection )