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Details
$5, 1842-D Small Date. VF-30 (PCGS). This is a very attractive example for the grade, featuring very light yellow gold surfaces with a trace of green.
The Small Date coins are more available than those with Large Date, perhaps representing 65 of the total population for this 1842-D issue. In Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861, author Douglas Winter noted mintages of the two varieties as 37,917 for the Small Date issue and 21,691 for Large Date.
The Small Date coins are more available than those with Large Date, perhaps representing 65 of the total population for this 1842-D issue. In Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861, author Douglas Winter noted mintages of the two varieties as 37,917 for the Small Date issue and 21,691 for Large Date.
Further details
This is the only example of this issue certified by PCGS as part of the S.S. Central America treasure. The Dahlonega Mint, in the hills of Georgia, opened for business in 1838 and remained active until the early days of the Civil War. Interestingly, Isaac Humphrey, who was among the first gold seekers on the American River in 1848, had gained experience in mining gold in Georgia before moving to California. Humphrey is credited with being the first in California to employ the "rocker" or "cradle" to process placer gold, this device having been popular in the Georgia gold fields.