1849 Gold Dollar Proof
Proof struck at the Philadelphia Mint · 10 made
- Mintage
- 10
- Metal
- 90% gold, 10% copper
- Weight
- 1.672 g
- Diameter
- 13 mm (Type 1); 15 mm (Types 2 and 3)
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is an 1849 Gold Dollar Proof worth?
This is one of the dates collectors hunt for. A genuine 1849 is valuable in any condition, even well worn. That's exactly why fakes and altered coins turn up so often.
What would make yours worth more:
- Grade and, for proofs, strong cameo contrast
- A die variety or minting error
- Certification by PCGS or NGC, which buyers expect for scarce dates
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 1849 Gold Dollar Proof rare?
- Fairly. The Mint made 10 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Is the 1849 Gold Dollar Proof real gold?
- No, it's gold: 0.0484 troy ounces of pure gold.
- Where is the mint mark on an 1849 Gold Dollar?
- On the reverse, below the wreath. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark. A "D" on a coin dated 1861 or earlier means Dahlonega, Georgia.
- How many 1849 Gold Dollar proofs were made?
- 10.
What to check on your 1849
- There's no mint mark on this one, so the date and condition are what matter.
- Judge the grade under good light. Look at the hair above the eye and the bow of the wreath. Many gold dollars were made into jewelry, so check for solder marks or removed loops.
Gold coins are counterfeited more than any other US coins. A genuine 1849 weighs 1.672 g. Buy certified examples from a reputable dealer. Proofs from 1849 were struck one at a time in small numbers and many were later spent or mishandled. Look for hairlines from cleaning, which lower the grade.
The story of the 1849
Small Type 1 dollars of the gold rush (1849 to 1853)
The Act of March 3, 1849 created the gold dollar to make use of the flood of California gold. James B. Longacre's Type 1 coin is tiny, about 13 mm across, with a Liberty head and a wreath reverse. Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega and New Orleans all struck it in 1849. By 1853 Philadelphia was producing millions a year.
First-year 1849 coins come with open and closed wreaths and with or without Longacre's L on the truncation. The 1849-C with an open wreath is a great rarity. Charlotte and Dahlonega coins were struck in small numbers and often show weak strikes, while New Orleans pieces are more plentiful. Many Type 1 dollars were made into jewelry, so check for solder marks and polished surfaces.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 1849
The California Gold Rush brought a flood of new gold to the Mint. Congress authorized the gold dollar and the $20 double eagle in March 1849. The first gold dollars were struck that year.
How to recognize it
The smallest US coin ever struck came in three types. Type 1 (1849 to 1854) shows a tiny Liberty head and measures only 13 mm. Type 2 (1854 to 1856) is larger and thinner, with Liberty wearing a feathered headdress. Type 3 (1856 to 1889) enlarges the portrait. Every type has a wreath on the reverse around 1 DOLLAR and the date.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Gold Dollar (1849–1889) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1849 |
| Mint | Philadelphia Mint |
| Mint mark | None |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 10 |
| Face value | $1 |
| Composition | 90% gold, 10% copper |
| Weight | 1.672 grams |
| Diameter | 13 mm (Type 1); 15 mm (Types 2 and 3) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
Other 1849 Gold Dollar issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1849 Gold Dollar | 688,567 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1849 Gold Dollar Proof | 10 | Proof | – |
| 1849-O Gold Dollar | 215,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1849-C Gold Dollar | 11,634 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1849-D Gold Dollar | 21,588 | Circulation strike | – |
Mintage: Gold dollar (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.