Undated (1849) Moran & Clark $10 Die Trial. K-1. Rarity-7+. Copper. Reeded Edge. EF-45 BN (NGC). The surfaces are toned in a deep golden brown with traces of mahogany and lustre in the protected areas. No heavy marks present though we note a toning spot at the AR in CLARK. Struck nominally off-center, a characteristic of most of the known examples of this issue. A curious die error is noted with second A in CARAT over an E.<p><p><p>Among the more enigmatic firms associated with the California Gold Rush, Moran & Clark was never able to realize their intent of producing gold coins for commercial use. A limited number of copper die trials for a $10 were made, as here, almost certainly in the East before the principals set out for the West Coast. Donald H. Kagin speculates that, "either the company disbanded before ever minting from gold, or the dies and/or coining machinery were discarded or lost on their way West." The author mentions two contemporary references to this firm and its principals, the first of which mentions a "D. Moran and John C. Clark" doing business in Sacramento from August 23, 1849 until November 1 of that year. The second, presumably written after the dissolution of Moran & Clark, was written by a Sacramento-based correspondent for a New York newspaper and dated November 28, 1850: "Mr. Dan Moran, formerly of Moran & Clark, of this city, is, I believe, in New York, doing there a large auction business."<p> From the Samuel J. Berngard Collection From the Samuel J. Berngard Collection