Bechtler 1st One Dollar Gold Coin 30 Grains obverse
The Christopher Bechtler One Dollar Gold Coin is a product of the United States first gold rush in the 1830s when large quantities of gold were found in various locations in the South Eastern portion of the Appalachian Mountain range in North Carolina and later in Georgia. It would not be until the second US Gold Rush in California that the United States Mint would start minting one dollar gold coins in 1849. Many suggest that the US one dollar gold coin is a result of the success of Christopher Bechtler One Dollar Gold Coin.
Bechtler 1st One Dollar Gold Coin 30 Grains reverse
Christopher Bechtler was born in 1767 in Germany where he studied to become a watchmaker. He had tried his hand in mining for gold in Germany but Bechtler did not found his riches there. He did get a patent for a gold washing machine in 1819. Bechtler immigrated to the United States in 1829 with his family. He settled in Philadelphia and started making watches in the build where the first US mint had been. In 1831 he took his family to North Carolina during the early gold rush.
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Bechtler Gold One Dollar 27 Grains 21 Carat obverse
Bechtler opened his private mint during 1831 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. He started assaying the local miners gold. He also made them into gold bars, and under US law struck gold coins of the equivalent denominations of one dollar, two and a half dollars (a quarter eagle), and five dollars (a half eagle). Many say he is the first to strike a one dollar gold coin in the United States. There were a lot of private mints in the United States however Bechter quickly became known for the accuracy and consistency of his refined gold.
Bechtler Gold One Dollar 27 Grains 21 Carat reverse
An example of a design is a coin smaller than a dime, about 0.625 inches. This has an inscription on the obverse a large “1” in the center and encircling this is “DOL:*” underneath and “A.BECHTLER” arching above. On the reverse is “27.G.” in the center and encircling this is “21.C.” underneath and “CAROLINA GOLD.” arching above. This indicates the location and mint, as well as the weight; 27 grains, and fineness; 21 carat.
The Bechtler One Dollar Gold Coin was struck first in July 1831 with 20 carat gold. These first 20 carat Bechtler gold coins weigh 30 grains per dollar value. As the technology allowed him to refine finer gold the carat rate rises from 20, to 21, and finally 22 carats. It is estimated that by 1840 he struck over $2.2 million dollars of gold coins with almost half of this being his one dollar coins.
Bechtler Gold 5 Dollar Coin 140 Grains 20 Carats obverse
Bechtler Gold 5 Dollar Coin 140 Grains 20 Carats reverse
This incredible success most likely prompted the United States Congress to allow the US Mint to strike one dollar gold coins in 1836, however the days Mint Director, Robert Maskell Patterson, was against the idea and the US didn’t mint the one dollar denomination as gold coins until 1849 after the Californian Gold Rush created a surplus of gold for minting.
When Christopher Bechtler passed away in 1843 his son took over his mint and slowly the gold quality started to drop off. Regardless, the Bechtler One Dollar Gold Coin and the Bechtlers’ other denominations are very collectible.
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