Description
$1 Liberty Type, (Type 1) Gold Coin
The series of gold coins known as the $1 Liberty Head Type 1 or Type 1 Gold Dollar, also referred to as the gold one-dollar piece, was minted by the US Mint from 1849 to 1889. Throughout its 40-year production, the coin went through three different types. With a diameter of approximately 13 mm, the Type 1 variety holds the record for being the smallest coin ever minted in the United States.
The design of the coin was heavily influenced by Christian Gobrecht’s earlier design of Lady Liberty, featuring a left-facing Liberty portrait that was identical to the one used on the Double Eagle during the same period. The years from 1850 to 1853 saw the highest mintage and usage of the gold dollar, as it became a popular choice for daily transactions, effectively replacing the half dollar and silver dollar. Consequently, many of the surviving specimens today exhibit significant signs of wear and tear.
Other Types
James Longacre’s type 2 Gold Dollar stands out as the most elusive among the series 1, 2, and 3 of gold dollars. Longacre, who had recently introduced the $3 Gold Piece, was determined to overcome the challenges he faced while minting coins with his initial dollar design. To tackle this, his first move was to increase the size to a remarkable 15 mm. As a result, the thickness had to be reduced as a clever way to balance the proportions.
James Longacre’s Liberty Head Type 3 Gold Dollar of 1856 achieved perfection, lasting in production until 1889. This remarkable coin features a larger and shallower design, resulting in fully-struck coins and enhanced quality. The elegant wreath design on the reverse side remains from the Type 2 dollar. With this third iteration, most striking issues have been resolved, yielding exquisitely defined gold dollars from this era.
Additional Information
The $1 liberty head gold coin was issued from 1849 to 1854 by the United States Mint. The coin was issued at the mints in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco. The reverse of the 1849 coin had two different versions; an open wreath and a closed wreath. The rarest is the 1849 open wreath minted in Charlotte.
Specifications
These coins have a face value of $1, and a net weight of .04837 oz pure gold. They are 90% gold and 10% copper. The diameter of the coin is 13 mm and the thickness is 1 mm.
What we buy
At California Gold and Silver Exchange we specialize in United States gold coins especially, Liberty Head gold coins. Some customers have the coins in plastic coin flips to protect the coins. Other customers have their gold coins in hard plastic holder from a secondary grading company, usually PCGS or NGC. These coins At California Gold and silver Exchange we buy both types of $20 Double Eagle Coins. We use up date pricing with all the coins we buy. Rest assured you are getting the most competitive prices for your gold coins. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call with any questions you have. You can call us at 909-985-4653, or send us an email at [email protected]
Other Gold Coins
The $20 St. Gaudens Gold Coin was produced after the $20 Liberty Gold Coin and is also very popular. Other United States gold Coins we purchase are the $20 Liberty, $10 Indian Head, $5 Liberty, $5 Indian Head, $2.50 Liberty, $2.50 Indian, and $1.00 Liberty Head, Type 1, 2, and 3. Another popular coin produced during this time period were the Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars.
