1854
Gold Dollar - With its
mintage of over 780,000, the 1854 Gold Dollar, Type 2 Gold
Dollar is a common date coin except in higher Mint State
grades. It is always in demand by type set collectors.
Because the coin was made wider and thinner
than the previous type, the mint had difficulty striking
them. Heavy die clash marks are often seen on this issue.
A die clash takes place when the two dies come together
without a planchet between them, and some of the design
is transferred from one die to the other. Subsequent coins
have the transferred part of the design as well as the regular
elements of the design.
In this year the Gadsden Purchase was finalized.
Southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico were purchased
from Mexico. It was the last major territorial acquisition
in the contiguous United States. The purchase allowed for
the construction of a southern route for the transcontinental
railroad.
1854
Gold Dollar
