$1 Gold Type 1 Certified MS64 (Dates/Types Vary)

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The U.S.' smallest coin is tiny — about half an inch in diameter — yet mighty in historical significance and aesthetic value. And this particular specimen is in certified MS64 grade.
In 1849, spurred by the California Gold Rush, Congress sanctioned the minting of gold dollars. James Barton Longacre, the Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint, was tasked with the design. His creation featured Lady Liberty wearing a coronet, encircled by 13 stars symbolizing the original colonies. The coin's reverse side was marked simply with its denomination and the year, wrapped in the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
The design underwent changes after 1854, transitioning to the "Indian Head" style and later evolving again, leading to three distinct gold dollar types. Known as the Type 1, the "Liberty Head" gold dollars minted from 1849 to 1854 included variations like the open and closed wreath designs.
These Type 1 coins were produced at several mints including Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco, although not every mint released them annually, and production numbers varied. Notably, the Charlotte and Dahlonega mints produced fewer than 10,000 coins in some years, such as 1850 and 1852. The Philadelphia Mint was the largest minter.
Despite their small size, which made them prone to being lost, these coins held significant purchasing power, equivalent to a full day’s wages at the time. Today, Type 1 gold dollars, especially those in higher grades like MS64, are prized by collectors for their rarity and the rich history they embody.
Collecting Type 1 gold dollars is a rewarding pursuit, and building collections of them is within reach for patient investors.