U.S. Gold Coins: $1 Gold Coins FAQs
The $1 gold coins were produced by the United States Mint from 1849 to 1889. These coins came in three different types:
Type 1 - Liberty Head (1849-1854): This design featured a left-facing image of Liberty wearing a coronet with "Liberty" inscribed on it. The reverse side depicted an open wreath encircling the denomination and date.
Type 2 - Indian Princess Head (Large Head) (1854-1856): This design showcased a left-facing Native American princess. The reverse was similar to the Type 1 but with a more elaborate, closed wreath.
Type 3 - Indian Princess Head (Small Head) (1856-1889): This version had a similar obverse design as the Type 2 but with a smaller head. The reverse design remained largely unchanged from the Type 2.
It's worth noting that while these coins were minted until 1889, they fell out of favor in everyday transactions by the late 1860s, largely due to their small size and the public's preference for paper currency.
The gold dollar coin was produced at five U.S. Mint facilities. Specifically, the gold dollar was minted at the following locations:
Philadelphia Mint (P or no mintmark): The primary mint facility, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced gold dollars for the entire duration of the coin's production.
Charlotte Mint (C mintmark): Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this mint primarily produced gold coins using gold sourced from the southern states. It minted gold dollars from 1849 to 1861.
Dahlonega Mint (D mintmark): Situated in Dahlonega, Georgia, this mint also focused on gold coin production using locally sourced gold. It produced gold dollars from 1849 to 1861.
New Orleans Mint (O mintmark): Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this mint produced gold dollars intermittently between 1849 and 1861.
San Francisco Mint (S mintmark): Situated in San Francisco, California, this mint began operations in 1854 and produced gold dollars in various years until 1870.
On the $1 gold coin, the mint mark is typically located on the reverse (back) side of the coin. The exact placement can vary slightly depending on the type of the coin:
Type 1 - Liberty Head (1849-1854): For this type, if a mint mark is present, it can be found just below the denomination "1 DOLLAR" and above the date on the reverse side of the coin.
Type 2 - Indian Princess Head (Large Head) (1854-1856) and Type 3 - Indian Princess Head (Small Head) (1856-1889): For these types, the mint mark is located below the wreath and above the denomination "1 DOLLAR" on the reverse side.
It's important to note that coins minted at the Philadelphia Mint often did not have a mint mark. If you don't see a mint mark, it's likely that the coin was produced in Philadelphia.