Christopher Bechtler: The German Goldsmith Who Minted Gold Dollars Before the US Government

 

• Birth in Pforzheim, Margraviate of Baden on 29 November 1782

• Training at the Jewelers and Watchmakers School of Pforzheim

• Discovery of Gold Traces in Stubensand (c. 1820)

• Request for Mining Concession and Placer Mining in Sternenfels

• Patent for Gold Washing Machine (1819)

• Immigration to the United States (1829)

• Watchmaker Store in Philadelphia (1830)

• Move to North Carolina (1830)

• Establishment of a Private Mint in Rutherford County (1831)

• Production of Bechtler Dollars ($1, $2.50, $5)

• Three Fineness Levels: 20, 21, and 22 Carats

• Honest Weight for the Time and Technology

• Success Against Other Private Producers

• Large Fortune from Coin Production

• Death in Rutherfordton, North Carolina (1843)

• Bechtler Mint Site Historic Park

• Coinage Act of 28 June 1834 and Increased Gold Value

• Scarcity and High Prices of Bechtler Coins Today

• Collection at the North Carolina National Bank of Charlotte

Common Article Text

Christopher Bechtler was a German-born American goldsmith and watchmaker who produced private gold dollars in the early 1830s, years before the US government began minting gold dollars in 1849. Born in Pforzheim, Margraviate of Baden (now in Germany), on November 29, 1782, he was trained at the Jewelers and Watchmakers School of Pforzheim, a technical school established by Grand Duke Charles Frederick in 1767. Around 1820, Bechtler spotted small gold traces in Stubensand, an early household abrasive. In 1823, he requested a mining concession and tried placer mining for gold in the Late Triassic Stubensandstein around neighboring Sternenfels, where the Stubensand was produced. The amount of gold found was not satisfactory, but Bechtler asked for a Ducal Badensian patent for his gold washing machine in 1819. In 1829, Bechtler, his sons Augustus and Charles, and a nephew immigrated to the United States. In 1830, he opened a watchmaker store in Philadelphia, the site of the first United States Mint. Drawn by one of the first gold rushes in the United States, Bechtler moved to North Carolina in 1830 and established a private mint. Bechtler and his successors private mint in Rutherford County, North Carolina, was run from 1831 through the 1850s and produced more than a million gold coins in the period between 1831 and 1841. Bechtler s precision and the reliable gold content of his coins allowed him to prevail against other producers and to obtain a large fortune. Bechtler s mint produced coins in three denominations: $1, $2.50, and $5, and the coins were struck in three fineness levels: 20 carats, 21 carats, and 22 carats. At the time and within the limits of the existing technology, the coins were considered of honest weight. Because of the Coinage Act of June 28, 1834, which increased the value of gold by more than 6%, Bechtler s coins today are quite scarce and consequently command high prices when offered for sale. The North Carolina National Bank of Charlotte has a collection that can be viewed today. The site of his mint is designated the Bechtler Mint Site Historic Park in North Carolina. Christopher Bechtler died in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, in 1843. This article explores the life, work, and legacy of the German goldsmith who minted gold dollars before the US government.

Birth in Pforzheim, Margraviate of Baden on 29 November 1782

Christopher Bechtler was born in Pforzheim, Margraviate of Baden, on November 29, 1782. Pforzheim was known for its jewelry and watchmaking industries.

Training at the Jewelers and Watchmakers School of Pforzheim

In 1767, Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Baden allowed watch manufacturing in Pforzheim and started a technical school. The school later became the Jewelers and Watchmakers School of Pforzheim. Bechtler was trained there.

Discovery of Gold Traces in Stubensand (c. 1820)

Around 1820, Bechtler spotted small gold traces in Stubensand, an early household abrasive.

Request for Mining Concession and Placer Mining in Sternenfels

In 1823, he requested a mining concession and tried placer mining for gold in the Late Triassic Stubensandstein around neighboring Sternenfels, where the Stubensand was produced.

Patent for Gold Washing Machine (1819)

The amount of gold found was not satisfactory, but Bechtler asked for a Ducal Badensian patent for his gold washing machine in 1819.

Immigration to the United States (1829)

In 1829, Bechtler, his sons Augustus and Charles, and a nephew immigrated to the United States.

Watchmaker Store in Philadelphia (1830)

In 1830, he opened a watchmaker store in Philadelphia, the site of the first United States Mint.

Move to North Carolina (1830)

Drawn by one of the first gold rushes in the United States, Bechtler moved to North Carolina in 1830 and established a private mint.

Establishment of a Private Mint in Rutherford County (1831)

Bechtler and his successors private mint in Rutherford County, North Carolina, was run from 1831 through the 1850s.

Production of Bechtler Dollars ($1, $2.50, $5)

Bechtler s mint produced coins in three denominations: $1, $2.50, and $5.

Three Fineness Levels: 20, 21, and 22 Carats

The coins were struck in three fineness levels: 20 carats, 21 carats, and 22 carats.

Honest Weight for the Time and Technology

At the time and within the limits of the existing technology, the coins were considered of honest weight.

Success Against Other Private Producers

Bechtler s precision and the reliable gold content of his coins allowed him to prevail against other producers and to obtain a large fortune.

Large Fortune from Coin Production

He produced more than a million gold coins in the period between 1831 and 1841.

Death in Rutherfordton, North Carolina (1843)

Christopher Bechtler died in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, in 1843.

Bechtler Mint Site Historic Park

The site of his mint is designated the Bechtler Mint Site Historic Park in North Carolina.

Coinage Act of 28 June 1834 and Increased Gold Value

Because of the Coinage Act of June 28, 1834, which increased the value of gold by more than 6%, Bechtler s coins today are quite scarce and consequently command high prices when offered for sale.

Scarcity and High Prices of Bechtler Coins Today

Collectors seek Bechtler dollars for their historical significance and their rarity.

Collection at the North Carolina National Bank of Charlotte

The North Carolina National Bank of Charlotte has a collection that can be viewed today.

Источник: https://constitutions-daily.com/component/k2/item/216551