Pictured (left to right) are Terry Caldwell, Bill Shelton, CJ Hindman, Jerry Adamczyk (holding his collection of Goldback currency), Jim Harris, and Ken Vanderbloomer at our December meeting. (Photo by Sharon Erwin)
Sharon Erwin
Are you curious about how coins and currency changes have reflected historical events? Then we suggest you come and check out the SaddleBrooke Coin Club, which features an educational talk at each meeting. The January speaker was a guest from the Tucson Coin Club, Bill Shelton, and his educational presentation was Gold Coinage in 1854.
Did you know there were U.S. gold coins minted in Dahlonega, Ga.? Due to their relative scarcity, you have likely never seen or known about them. The Dahlonega Gold Museum in the 1836 Courthouse chronicles the Georgia Gold Rush mining in the area from the discovery of gold in 1828. All coins bear the “D” mint mark, a unique identifier for this branch mint. Denominations produced included $1 gold dollars, $2.50 Quarter Eagles, $5 Half Eagles, and for only a single year (1854), the $3 gold piece.
From a historical perspective, 1854 was a unique year in U.S. history, with the divisive Kansas-Nebraska Act (May 30), which repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 (which admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance of power in the Senate) and allowed the use of popular sovereignty to decide slavery in the new territories. That Act led to “Bleeding Kansas,” which involved violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery territory settlers, foreshadowing the Civil War. That Act also prompted the anti-slavery activists to form the Republican Party (aka Grand Old Party) in Ripon, Wis., marking a significant political shift.
The SaddleBrooke Coin Club has been helping to expand numismatic knowledge among residents since it was established here in 2010. SaddleBrooke Coin Club meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month (except June, July, and August) at 6 p.m. in the Catalina Room, located at 38691 Mountain View Boulevard, and always feature an educational topic. With the all-time high price of silver over $76 and gold over $4,400 an ounce, that collection may be worth a lot more than you imagined. Free, unofficial appraisals and advice are available from club members to help you with whatever your goals are.
Guests and new members are always welcome! For any questions, call Terry Caldwell, SaddleBrooke Coin Club president, at 719-246-1822 or send an email to tjcaldw@gmail.com.