RARE C. BECHTLER HALF EAGLE

Kagin-17 C. Bechtler, Plain Edge; RUTHERFORD

The Bechtler family earned a well-deserved reputation for fairness and accuracy during more than 20 years of serving the isolated gold mining industry in the rural South. Their private mint maintained a significant presence in southern commerce for those years under the leadership of Christopher Bechtler, his son Augustus, and his grandson Christopher Jr. Operations were based in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, in the heart of the southern gold fields that, in the early years between 1831 and 1838, allowed the Bechtlers to become an important local source of circulating gold coinage. The establishment of the Charlotte and Dahlonega branch mints in 1838 reduced the need for privately minted gold coins, although the Bechtlers continued to operate into the mid-1850s and their coinage circulated side-by-side with federal issues beyond the specie-starved days of the Civil War.

Bechtler coinage is seen in three denominations: the gold dollar, the quarter eagle and the half eagle and are found in Georgia and (North) Carolina varieties. The half eagle denomination is popular with multiple levels of collectors (both Territorial and federal branch mint) and examples are not often seen above the EF45 to AU50 range. This fresh-to-the-market example has the eye appeal and sharpness of an AU58 but it has been properly net-graded by PCGS on account of some random scratches at the central reverse. Both sides are prooflike with rich, pleasing natural reddish-gold flashes. The obverse is especially nice and this piece has uncommon eye appeal for the issue.

Only one PCGS AU53 has sold in close to a decade and it brought $11,163 as Stacks Bowers 4/13: 1208 (its low price was no doubt caused by the presence of some serious mint-made planchet fissures). A PCGS AU55 sold for $15,275 as Heritage 6/15: 4429 and that coin didn’t have the pretty color or positive eye appeal which the present piece displays.

If you collect Charlotte half eagles or gold coinage from this branch mint in general, your set will be greatly enhanced by including a few Bechtler gold pieces.