Christopher, August, and related Bechtler issues converted southern gold into coins whose inscriptions often state dollar value, grains, carats, or geographic source.

The 1831–1850 catalog contains 31 rows across family names, weights, fineness statements, edge formats, and locations.

Core specifications

Issue period
1831–1850
Catalog mints
Not stated
Reported catalog mintage
Not reported
Composition
Not stated
Diameter
Not stated
Weight
Not stated

An assay business becomes a regional mint

The Bechtlers served miners before and alongside federal southern branch mints.

Their text-heavy designs make small inscription differences central to attribution.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

BECHTLER family initials, dollar value, grain weight, and carat statements replace a conventional portrait.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

N. CAROLINA, GEORGIA GOLD, stars, and additional fineness text identify geographic and technical subtypes.

Representative issues that explain the series

Transcribe every word, numeral, edge, weight, and diameter before choosing a catalog number.

Issue catalog

C. Bechtler G$1 30 GrainsC. Bechtler G$1 28 Grain HighC. Bechtler G$1 28 Grain CenterC. Bechtler G$1 N ReversedC. Bechtler $2-1/2 No 75GC. Bechtler $2-1/2 No 75G Coarse BeadsC. Bechtler $2-1/2 CarolinaC. Bechtler $2-1/2 CircleC. Bechtler $2-1/2 Fine ReedC. Bechtler $2-1/2 67 Grains 21 CaratC. Bechtler $2-1/2 64 Grains 22 CaratC. Bechtler $2-1/2 Even 22C. Bechtler $2-1/2 70 Grains 20 CaratC. Bechtler $5 No 150C. Bechtler $5 150 Grains 20 CaratC. Bechtler $5 Date, Reeded EdgeC. Bechtler $5 140 grains RUTHERFORD PEC. Bechtler $5 Date Rutherford P.E.C. Bechtler $5 No Star and No CC. Bechtler $5 Date, PE, ColonC. Bechtler $5 Date 20 DistantC. Bechtler $5 134 StarC. Bechtler $5 128 Grains ColonC. Bechtler $5 128 Grains RutherfordC. Bechtler $5 128 Grains RutherfA. Bechtler G$1 27 Grains 21 CaratA. Bechtler G$1 27 Grains 21 Ct REA. Bechtler $5 134 Grain 21 Carat C. Becht. Rev.A. Bechtler $5 134 Grains 21 CaratA. Bechtler $5 128 Grains 22 CaratA. Bechtler $5 141 Grains 20 Carat

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 31 issue records, 0 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. Christopher Bechtler Five Dollars, 1834 — Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  2. Three Gold Rarities That Escaped the Melting Pot — Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  3. Bechtler (N. Carolina/Georgia) category reference — PCGS CoinFacts