Lot 47

1857 Indian Head California Octagonal Gold Coin

Sold December 12, 2025

Price realized
$85

Price realized is the winning bid (hammer price) and excludes buyer’s premium.

About this lot

Estimated Value: $100-250

Origin: California, U.S.A

Denomination: No denomination marked

Year: 1857

Mint: No Offical U.S. mint but minted in California, U.S.A., privately minted

Grade/Condition: G

Metal: ~90% gold and ~10% copper

Weight (+/- 0.2g): 0.3 grams

Additional Description: Minted in 1857 during the California Gold Rush, this octagonal Indian Head gold coin represents one of the most distinctive issues of the period, blending artistic ambition with the practical demands of a rapidly expanding frontier economy. The obverse features a stylized Native American profile, a motif that reflects both the romanticized imagery and the aspirations of early California coinage, while the reverse bears the denomination within a simple yet purposeful design, optimized for everyday commercial use. Believed to be of G (Good) grade, the coin exhibits wear consistent with circulation in a bustling gold economy, yet its unique octagonal form and historical context remain fully appreciable.

Lot details

Lot
47
Closed
December 12, 2025

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