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
- Auction
- Gold and Silver Showcase
- Closed
- December 12, 2025
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