Georgia Gold and the Bechtler Family
Gold was discovered in Western North Carolina around 1825. It was an important strike but not as much as was found in California some 20+ years later and in 1828, Gold was found in Georgia, near Dahlonega.
Enough Gold was found in North Carolina and in Georgia to attract the attention of German Metallurgist, Christopher Bechtler. He was accompanied and assisted by his son, August, and by his nephew, also named Christian. They believed that by opening up a private mint, many miners would rather have them turn their gold dust and ore into gold coins than risk the 900-mile round trip to Philadelphia to have the US Mint do the same thing. The Bechtlers had proven themselves by converting the dust or ore into coins and by doing honest and accurate assays. This gave their privately-minted gold coins respectability and many people wanted to trade with them.
As their reputation gained prominence in the area, when Gold was found in 1828 in Georgia miners began sending and delivering gold to the Bechtlers for them to strike into coinage. The designs on the coins struck for North Carolina were also used for coins struck with Georgia gold.
The Bechtlers created three varieties of $5.00 Gold Coins comprised of Georgia gold. The obverse has the Weight in the center “128.G.”, the Fineness on the bottom periphery “22 CARATS” with a five-pointed star in between. The top periphery has “GEORGIA GOLD.” on it.
The reverse has the denomination in the center in two lines, with the bottom like circular “5 DOLLARS.” At the top periphery is “C. BECHTLER.” And at the bottom periphery is “AT RUTHERFORD” and a large five-pointed star.
The next variety is exactly as described above but after the “G.” in the Weight it instead has “G:” where a colon is substituted instead of a period.
The final variety restores the period (.) after the “G” in the Weight, but changes the obverse from “AT RUTHERFORD” to “AT RUTHERF:”
Expand your collection today and shop for a (1837-42) $5 Carolina Gold C. Bechtler.
