1857-D
Gold Dollar - The 1857-D Gold Dollar had a
tiny mintage of 3,533, which means it is rare in all conditions.
The survivors are usually weakly struck especially on the
reverse borders. Very few Mint State examples are known.
Twenty-six have been certified by both PCGS and NGC, the
finest of which are in grade MS62 with none higher.
In 1857 the Lecompton Constitution was proposed
for the state of Kansas. It enshrined slavery in the proposed
state and protected the rights of slave owners. Robert Walker,
President James Buchanan’s appointee as governor opposed
it and resigned rather than implement it. It was passed
by the Kansas voters and sent to Washington for Congress
to approve. Buchanan, a Democrat who had Southern sympathies,
endorsed the Lecompton Constitution. Steven Douglas, leader
of the Northern Democrats, opposed it. Because of voting
fraud in Kansas, it was not approved. Eventually Kansas
was admitted as a free state.
