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Anonymous
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Because of his honesty and reasonable charges for assaying and coining gold dust, 2% to 2.5% the Bechtler coinage from 1831 through 1840 was substantial.
The breakdown is as follows:
Value Dwts.
Coined Fluxed
January, 1831 thru December, 1834 $109,732.50 395,804
January, 1835 thru December, 1835 695,896.00 711,583
January, 1836 thru August, 1836 471,322.50 397,410
September, 1836 thru May 1838 770,329.50 201,141
June, 1838 thru February, 1840 194,560.00 24,060
Totals $2,241,840.50 1,729,998
In August 1831 Bechtler promised "new dies will be made especially for stamping South Carolina and also gold". Bechtler coins appearing later than 1834 bore the words "North Carolina Gold, "Carolina Gold," and "Georgia Gold." Many believe that the words on the $5 coins denoted gold of varying purities such as (20 carats - 140 grains, 21 carats - 134 grains, 22 carats - 128 grains) regardless of where the stamped gold was mined. Statements from the Acting Director of the Mint tend to support this position.
The senior Bechtler operated the mint until his death in 1842, when he was succeeded first by his son August, and later, upon August's retirement, by his nephew Christopher Bechtler, Jr. Unlike as was the case with the elder Bechtler, coins produced by August were frequently underweight, and occasionally of dubious fineness. Those coined by Christopher, Jr. did not retain their former fineness.
The Bechtler's have the distinction of being the first to mint gold dollars a good 18 years prior to the first striking at Philadelphia in 1849. The Bechtler coins were so well accepted for commerce in general that during the Civil war that monetary obligations of the Confederacy were specified as payable in "Bechtler gold" rather than Union or Confederate or state currency. In spite of the shortage of gold mined in the area after 1838, the Bechtlers continued to issue gold coins through the late 1840's.
The breakdown is as follows:
Value Dwts.
Coined Fluxed
January, 1831 thru December, 1834 $109,732.50 395,804
January, 1835 thru December, 1835 695,896.00 711,583
January, 1836 thru August, 1836 471,322.50 397,410
September, 1836 thru May 1838 770,329.50 201,141
June, 1838 thru February, 1840 194,560.00 24,060
Totals $2,241,840.50 1,729,998
In August 1831 Bechtler promised "new dies will be made especially for stamping South Carolina and also gold". Bechtler coins appearing later than 1834 bore the words "North Carolina Gold, "Carolina Gold," and "Georgia Gold." Many believe that the words on the $5 coins denoted gold of varying purities such as (20 carats - 140 grains, 21 carats - 134 grains, 22 carats - 128 grains) regardless of where the stamped gold was mined. Statements from the Acting Director of the Mint tend to support this position.
The senior Bechtler operated the mint until his death in 1842, when he was succeeded first by his son August, and later, upon August's retirement, by his nephew Christopher Bechtler, Jr. Unlike as was the case with the elder Bechtler, coins produced by August were frequently underweight, and occasionally of dubious fineness. Those coined by Christopher, Jr. did not retain their former fineness.
The Bechtler's have the distinction of being the first to mint gold dollars a good 18 years prior to the first striking at Philadelphia in 1849. The Bechtler coins were so well accepted for commerce in general that during the Civil war that monetary obligations of the Confederacy were specified as payable in "Bechtler gold" rather than Union or Confederate or state currency. In spite of the shortage of gold mined in the area after 1838, the Bechtlers continued to issue gold coins through the late 1840's.
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