RARE C. BECHTLER CAROLINA $5 GRADED AU55 BY PCGS

K-19, R-5. C Bechtler $5, 140 G, 20 distant, RUTHERF:

This issue was struck using gold from the newly opened mines in Western North Carolina. It was made ca. 1834-1837 by Christopher Bechtler who own and operated a very successful private mint in Rutherfordton, N.C. which operated all the way until the early 1850s. With no Federal mint(s) yet located in the southern gold rush areas in Western North Carolina and Northern Georgia, private minters such as Templeton Reid and the Bechtler family provided a means to exchange gold dust and small nuggets for coins which could be more easily used in day-to-day transactions. The K-19 variety is quite scarce, and it is popular with Charlotte collectors as it represents one of the first collectible half eagles struck in North Carolina. I am aware of just two Uncirculated pieces (a PCGS MS61 and a 62 from that service) as well as another three or four which grade AU55 to AU58.

This is a pleasing coin which I feel is accurately graded as it retains much mint luster, and it shows little in the way of actual wear. The surfaces show a few minor disturbances but nothing crucial and both sides have a medium green-gold hue with some deeper reddish-gold hues lodged within the obverse lettering. I haven’t handled one of these in many years and I doubt that a nicer K-19 will become available unless a major specialized set of Bechtler gold is offered at an auction.

A PCGS AU55 example of the K-19 half eagle has never sold at auction and just one AU58 has sold since late 2006; the Buffalo Bayou coin, ex Heritage 2022 FUN: 4454, which I didn’t especially care for but it still sold for a record-smashing $72,000.

Here is a really significant Carolina Bechtler for the advanced specialized collector.

DWN collects sales tax when appropriate.