1851 San Francisco State of California $5 Die Trial. K-2a. Rarity-7-. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof--Polished (NGC).Deep mahogany-brown surfaces with vivid lilac-blue highlights, the result of an old cleaning and subsequent lacquering. Despite these misguided attempts at enhancement by a long ago owner, this specimen is quite attractive. The design is quite pleasing aesthetically and was well accomplished from the standpoint of engraving and striking. The die trials of the enigmatic San Francisco State of California were likely produced by an English firm as a proposed general coinage for Gold Rush California. The workmanship of these pieces is certainly superior to that of many die trials prepared on the U.S. East Coast by aspiring California coiners such as Moran & Clark. Additionally, Kagin (1981) notes that many San Francisco State of California die trials entered the U.S. numismatic market as part of four-piece sets that included one example each of the $2.50, $5, $10 and $20. The existence of these sets suggests an initial distribution to collectors, something that is completely acceptable for English firm during the 1850s but which would have been highly unusual for a speculative private coiner on the East Coast of the United States during the same decade. Additionally, the San Francisco State of California pieces are often encountered in attractive Mint State preservation, again strongly suggestive of numismatic ownership and car since the time of striking. An historically significant type, examples of which are seldom found in the numismatic market.From the Collection of Samuel J. Berngard. Ex Dr. Phillip Whiteley; Abner Kreisberg, 1959; our (Bowers and Ruddys) sale of the Clifford Collection, March 1982, lot 101; Heritages FUN Signature Sale of January 1997, lot 5591; our (Stacks) sale of the Rev. Paul Harwell Collection, Americana Sale, January 2007, lot 5395; Heritages CSNS Signature Auction of April 2017, lot 5840.
