1856-D Gold Dollar - The 1856-D Gold Dollar is very rare because of its low mintage of only 1,460 and its low rate of preservation. It is a key to the series. Only 11 have been certified in Mint State by both services with the finest being a single MS63. Most examples are weakly struck with the U in UNITED always soft or missing.

Specifications:
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 1.672 grams (25.8 grains) (.0538 troy ounces)
Diameter: 15 millimeters
Composition: 90% gold; 10% copper
Gold Content: 1.505 grams (23.22 grains) (.0484 troy ounces)

In the presidential election of 1856, James Buchanan, a Democrat defeated John C. Fremont, a Republican and Millard Fillmore, a Know Nothing. Fremont condemned the expansion of slavery. Buchanan endorsed the popular sovereignty approach to slavery expansion. Fillmore ignored slavery and favored anti-immigration policies. He won only about one fifth of the vote. The incumbent, Franklin Pierce was not renominated by his party because under his leadership the Democrats had divided into the Northern and Southern wings of the party.