1851 G$1 AU58 Certification #83947036, PCGS #7513

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Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

The 1851 Gold Dollar

The Gold Dollar was introduced in 1849 as a coin that would circulate freely in commerce, providing an avenue for everyday Americans to utilize the flood of gold traveling east from the California gold fields. Conceived alongside the $20 Double Eagle, the two coins presented a study in contrasts: the diminutive gold dollar was more portable than the standard silver dollar, while the $20 piece provided a powerful instrument for institutional payments and transfers.

Gold Dollars struck from 1849 to 1854 are known as Type 1 Gold Dollars. They measure 13 mm in diameter and weigh 1.672 grams. Designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver James Barton Longacre, the coin features a portrait of Liberty on the obverse and a wreath—along with the denomination and statutory inscriptions—on the reverse.

From a collector’s perspective, the Type 1 series offers coins that fall into three tranches: common, semi-rare, and ultra-rare. The most famous of these is the ultra-rare 1849-C Open Wreath (#7506), of which only five are known. Conversely, the 1851 Gold Dollar (#7513) falls into the common bracket. The Philadelphia Mint struck 3,317,671 examples in 1851, the second-highest mintage of the type.

While many survive in grades of PCGS MS64 and below, the grade most frequently reported in the PCGS Population Report is PCGS MS62, followed by PCGS MS63. Patient collectors may have multiple opportunities each year to acquire a Gem in MS65, but connoisseurs must out-compete all others for the chance to add one of the handful of known Superb Gem MS67 or finer coins to their cabinets.

Regarding this elite subset of surviving specimens, the PCGS MS68+ from the Akers, Duckor, and Simpson collections is technically the finest example known, besting a single coin graded MS69 by NGC.

Although it required many dies to strike over three million coins, a common feature on many condition census examples is a raised “pimple” on the chin. Many also show evidence of die lapping on the reverse, where fine details—such as the stems leading to the berries or the thinner areas of the ribbon—have been effaced. The consistency of these traits suggests these coins may have been saved together many years ago.

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PCGS #

7513

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

12.70 millimeters

Weight

1.70 grams

Mintage

3317671

Metal

90% Gold, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

2349

Pop Lower

946

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	6000	R-3.8	25 / 26	78 / 81 TIE
All Grades	2500	R-4.5	23 / 26 TIE	74 / 81 TIE
60 or Better	125	R-7.7	17 / 26	48 / 81 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	6000
All Grades	2500
60 or Better	125

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-3.8
All Grades	R-4.5
60 or Better	R-7.7

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	25 / 26
All Grades	23 / 26 TIE
60 or Better	17 / 26

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	78 / 81 TIE
All Grades	74 / 81 TIE
60 or Better	48 / 81 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS68+	David W. Akers. As PCGS MS68. Stack’s Bowers, August 13, 2011, Lot 7579 – $63,250. Pop two, with none finer, when offered. As PCGS MS68 #24463214. “The Duckor Family Collection of Gold Dollars,” Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2015, Lot 4241 – $94,000. As PCGS MS68+ #40276027. “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part IV,” Heritage Auctions, February 23, 2021, Lot 3082 – $108,000. Top Pop: Pop 1 when offered. Small “pimple” on the chin. Reverse berries missing stems. Minor tick at the tip of the coronet. Three light streaks (as struck) between the stars at 12 and 1 o’clock. Diagonal planchet void at the star at 2 o’clock. Reverse exhibits a tiny planchet void below TA and two minute hits to the left of the digit "1." Thin vertical scratch on the "1." Doug Winter described this specimen as the finest known in 2015. Plate coin for this profile.
2	PCGS MS68
3	Est. MS67+	As PCGS MS67+ #25785891. Dell Loy Hansen. As CACG MS67+ #872545106. Frosty. Copper orange toning spot to touching the left of "L" of LIBERTY. Another similar toning spot on between an inner berry and leaf on the left side of the wreath. Faint planchet push below truncation.
4	PCGS MS67	Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4313 – $11,400; Heritage Auctions, November 20, 2020, Lot 3363 – $11,100.
4	PCGS MS67	As NGC MS67 #302057-002. "The Richard Jewell Collection," American Numismatic Rarities, March 8, 2005, Lot 518 - Passed; "The Madison Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2008, Lot 3041 - $16,100; "The Larry H. Miller Collection," Stack's Bowers, December 17, 2020, Lot 1110 - $10,200. As PCGS MS67 #41084354. Splashes of blue-gold toning. Planchet laminations near the bottom border.

#1 PCGS MS68+

David W. Akers. As PCGS MS68. Stack’s Bowers, August 13, 2011, Lot 7579 – $63,250. Pop two, with none finer, when offered. As PCGS MS68 #24463214. “The Duckor Family Collection of Gold Dollars,” Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2015, Lot 4241 – $94,000. As PCGS MS68+ #40276027. “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part IV,” Heritage Auctions, February 23, 2021, Lot 3082 – $108,000. Top Pop: Pop 1 when offered. Small “pimple” on the chin. Reverse berries missing stems. Minor tick at the tip of the coronet. Three light streaks (as struck) between the stars at 12 and 1 o’clock. Diagonal planchet void at the star at 2 o’clock. Reverse exhibits a tiny planchet void below TA and two minute hits to the left of the digit "1." Thin vertical scratch on the "1." Doug Winter described this specimen as the finest known in 2015. Plate coin for this profile.

#2 PCGS MS68

#3 Est. MS67+

As PCGS MS67+ #25785891. Dell Loy Hansen. As CACG MS67+ #872545106. Frosty. Copper orange toning spot to touching the left of "L" of LIBERTY. Another similar toning spot on between an inner berry and leaf on the left side of the wreath. Faint planchet push below truncation.

#4 PCGS MS67

Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4313 – $11,400; Heritage Auctions, November 20, 2020, Lot 3363 – $11,100.

#4 PCGS MS67

As NGC MS67 #302057-002. "The Richard Jewell Collection," American Numismatic Rarities, March 8, 2005, Lot 518 - Passed; "The Madison Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2008, Lot 3041 - $16,100; "The Larry H. Miller Collection," Stack's Bowers, December 17, 2020, Lot 1110 - $10,200. As PCGS MS67 #41084354. Splashes of blue-gold toning. Planchet laminations near the bottom border.