Apparently Dan Moran and John C. Clark wanted
to be in the gold assaying business in Sacramento in 1849.
They are known from their trial strikes of ten-dollar copper
pieces. However, it is unclear if the trial pieces were
actually made in Sacramento or San Francisco, which is inscribed
on the coin.
The use of “San Francisco” as
a place name does not mean that the coins were made there.
Some researchers believe that the die trial pieces were
actually struck in New York, and then Moran and Clark went
to the West. The company either disbanded before setting
up operations or the dies and other equipment were lost
or discarded on the way to California. A contemporary newspaper
article places D. Moran and John C. Clark in Sacramento
in 1849 from August to November.
A year later a New York publication called
“New York Spirit of the Times” on January 18,
1851 reported, “Mr. Dan Moran, formerly of Moran &
Clark, of [Sacramento] is, I believe, in New York, doing
there a large auction business.” The coins were probably
struck towards the end of 1849 or the beginning of 1850
since Moran was in New York by the end of the year.
The coins are inscribed CALIFORNIA GOLD
with WARRANTED and 10 DOLLS. below. Stars are to the left
and right of the denomination. Under it is MINT VAL N. Below
is the company name MORAN & CLARK. The reverse shows
a laurel wreath motif tied with a bow. SAN FRANCISCO is
at the top, and CALIFORNIA is below. Within the wreath the
weight and fineness are inscribed 11DWT 8GR and 20½
CARAT. Stars are above and below the inscription and outside
the wreath as well.
All Moran & Clark copper pieces are
rare. Only five have been certified by the major grading
services. In a set of California gold and gold patterns,
a Moran & Clark piece would be key coin.
