(1834) G$5 C. Bechtler, RUTHERFORD, 140 GR, 20C, Dated Obverse, No Initial or Star, K-Transitional MS

Struck sometime in late 1834, after the US standard for gold was changed, the KTransitional half eagle is the earliest $5 coin struck following Bechtler’s adoption of the 28-grain-per-dollar standard. It is apparent that Bechtler had not yet settled on a design for the new type. The obverse die, which Bechtler used regularly for every 20-cara.t half eagle issued through the late 1830’s, bears the lege.nd CA.ROLINA GOLD, as well as the coin’s weight and fineness, and AUGUST 1 1834, the enaction date for the legislation that changed the composition of US gold coins. The reverse lacks Christopher Bechtler’s first initial and the star typically found before it. This reverse die was barely used; the single example of this variety known today was discovered in 1983 by numismatist Daniel Freeman.

Obverse: 140 .G. AUGUST 1. 1834. 20. CARATS. CAROLINA GOLD.

Reverse: 5 DOLLARS. BECHTLER .AT RUTHERFORD

Following his adoption of the 28-grain, 20-carat per dollar standard, Christopher Bechtler manufactured a new obverse die for the gold dollar and a new reverse die for the half eagle, and completely redesigned the quarter eagle. In doing so, he established the basic layouts that he would adhere to until his death in 1842.

On these and all future Bechtler issues, the obverse would include information about the weight of the coin, and the reverse would bear the piece’s denomination. While Fifth Issue dollars and half eagles would be struck for only a short time, 70-grain quarter eagles appear to have been made until at least 1842.