1872 Round $1. BG-1208. Rarity-6-. Indian Head. AU-58 (NGC).Handsome honey-gold surfaces with flashes of semi-prooflike reflectivity in the fields. BG-1208 is the only type in the California small denomination gold series that includes the word TOKEN as part of the design. This word was most likely added in reaction to the arrest of makers Hershfield and Mitchell in August 1871 for violating the Private Coinages Act of June 8, 1864. Eventually, the prosecution was abandoned and business returned to normal, as evidenced by the large number of varieties issued between 1871 and 1883. A rare type that has special appeal for collectors of this series due to the unique nature of the design.From the Collection of Carril Valparaiso.
