1853 Round 25 Cents. BG-209. Rarity-7-. Liberty Head. AU-58 (PCGS). This charming piece exhibits iridescent pinkish-rose highlights to otherwise deep honey-gold color. Much of the semi-prooflike finish remains, the surfaces quite "flashy" in hand. Well struck overall with bold to sharp detail to most design elements. BG Die State II, late, the obverse die shattered with numerous cracks around the periphery, especially from 1 to 3 oclock, where the cracks are boldest and extend into Libertys portrait.<p>Breen-Gillio 209 is a major rarity in the California small denomination gold series. With two examples discovered with the treasure of the <em>S.S. Winfield Scott</em> shipwreck, it is a variety that saw actual circulation during the Gold Rush era. Interestingly, those two coins represent 20 to 25% of the extant population of the variety, which is believed to number just eight to 10 coins. Not surprisingly, we have handled few examples of this issue over the years, emphasizing the fleeting nature of the present offering.<p>A particularly interesting die pairing from frontier, Deviercy & Co., BG-209 features a reverse die on which the digit 4 in the denomination is not only repunched, but also reversed. From the Oregon Collection.
