| National Museum of American History

One (1) 10 dollar coinUnited States, 1830Obverse Image: N/AObverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD / 1830Reverse Image: N/AReverse Text: TEMPLETON REID ASSAYER / TEN DOLLARSBefore the famous California gold rush, several important strikes were made in the East: in North Carolina, South Caroli

Description (Brief): One (1) 10 dollar coin; United States, 1830; Obverse Image: N/A; Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD / 1830; Reverse Image: N/A; Reverse Text: TEMPLETON REID ASSAYER / TEN DOLLARS
Description: Before the famous California gold rush, several important strikes were made in the East: in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The earliest took place in Mecklenburg County, N.C., in 1799, where a nugget weighing several pounds was discovered. Its finder used it as a doorstop until someone recognized it for what it was! Discoveries multiplied, and a federal branch Mint was eventually set up in Charlotte to process the metal into coinage.; Discoveries in Georgia and North Carolina in the 1820s received wide publicity, and a "gold fever" resulted. Thousands of people began trekking to the areas in search of instant wealth. Most returned home empty-handed, but successful prospectors found millions of dollars' worth of precious metal.; What should they do with their new wealth? Many felt the Philadelphia Mint was too far away for safe travel, and the government wasn't ready to create other coining facilities. A jack-of-all-trades named Templeton Reid had an answer: strike private gold coins, at a private mint. Reid had extensive experience as a watchmaker, gunsmith, and metalworker. In July 1830, he set up shop in the Georgia hamlet of Milledgeville and began his brief career as private moneyer-the first since Ephraim Brasher.; He later moved to Gainesville, which was closer to the gold mining district. His coins came in three denominations: ten dollars, five dollars, and two and one-half dollars, in recognition of "official" denominations. And he put slightly more gold into his products than the federal government did into its coins, just to be on the safe side.; Although historians believe that Templeton Reid conducted business fairly, an unknown adversary, signing himself simply "no assayer," published several notices in newspapers complaining that the coins were not as represented.; Rumors spread and before long Reid was forced to close up the business.

date made: 1830

maker: Reid, Templeton

ID Number: NU.68.159.1185
accession number: 283645
catalog number: 68.159.1185

One (1) 5 dollar coinUnited States, 1830Obverse Image: N/AObverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD. / $5Reverse Image: N/AReverse Text: TEMPLETON REID ASSAYER.

Description (Brief): One (1) 5 dollar coin; United States, 1830; Obverse Image: N/A; Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD. / $5; Reverse Image: N/A; Reverse Text: TEMPLETON REID ASSAYER. / $5
Description: Before the famous California gold rush, several important strikes were made in the East: in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The earliest took place in Mecklenburg County, N.C., in 1799, where a nugget weighing several pounds was discovered. Its finder used it as a doorstop until someone recognized it for what it was! Discoveries multiplied, and a federal branch Mint was eventually set up in Charlotte to process the metal into coinage.; Discoveries in Georgia and North Carolina in the 1820s received wide publicity, and a "gold fever" resulted. Thousands of people began trekking to the areas in search of instant wealth. Most returned home empty-handed, but successful prospectors found millions of dollars' worth of precious metal. What should they do with their new wealth? Many felt the Philadelphia Mint was too far away for safe travel, and the government wasn't ready to create other coining facilities.; A jack-of-all-trades named Templeton Reid had an answer: strike private gold coins, at a private mint. Reid had extensive experience as a watchmaker, gunsmith, and metalworker. In July 1830, he set up shop in the Georgia hamlet of Milledgeville, and began his brief career as private moneyer-the first since Ephraim Brasher.; His coins came in three denominations: ten dollars, five dollars, and two and one-half dollars, in recognition of "official" denominations. And he put slightly more gold into his products than the federal government did into its coins, just to be on the safe side. Although historians believe that Templeton Reid conducted business fairly, an unknown adversary, signing himself simply "no assayer," published several notices in newspapers complaining that the coins were not as represented.; Rumors spread and before long Reid was forced to close up the business.; He apparently planned to go to California to participate in the gold rush there, and even made dies with a California imprint. However there is no record of his having made the trip West.
Location: Currently not on view

date made: 1830

maker: Reid, Templeton

ID Number: 1991.0357.0126
catalog number: 1991.0357.0126
accession number: 1991.0357

One (1) 10 dollar coinUnited States, 1830Obverse Image: Ring of stars.Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLDReverse Image: N/AReverse Text: TEMPLETON REID ASSAYER / TEN DOLLARSProduced by Templeton Reid in Milledgeville or Gainesville, Georgia.Templeton Reid was a jack of all trades.

Description (Brief): One (1) 10 dollar coin; United States, 1830; Obverse Image: Ring of stars.; Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD; Reverse Image: N/A; Reverse Text: TEMPLETON REID ASSAYER / TEN DOLLARS
Description: Produced by Templeton Reid in Milledgeville or Gainesville, Georgia.; Templeton Reid was a jack of all trades. In mid-1830, he gained immortality by becoming the first American since Ephraim Brasher to strike his own gold coins. Some of his ten-dollar pieces bear dates. Others, including this one, do not. Five dated pieces are known and only three undated ones.
Location: Currently not on view

Date made: 1830

maker: Reid, Templeton

ID Number: NU.68.159.1186
accession number: 283645
catalog number: 68.159.1186

One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coinUnited States, 1830Obverse Image: N/AObverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD. / 1830Reverse Image: N/AReverse Text: T. REID ASSAYER.

Description (Brief): One (1) 2 1/2 dollar coin; United States, 1830; Obverse Image: N/A; Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD. / 1830; Reverse Image: N/A; Reverse Text: T. REID ASSAYER. / 2.50
Description: Before the famous California gold rush, several important strikes were made in the East: in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The earliest took place in Mecklenburg County, N.C., in 1799, where a nugget weighing several pounds was discovered. Its finder used it as a doorstop until someone recognized it for what it was! Discoveries multiplied, and a federal branch Mint was eventually set up in Charlotte to process the metal into coinage.; Discoveries in Georgia and North Carolina in the 1820s received wide publicity, and a "gold fever" resulted. Thousands of people began trekking to the areas in search of instant wealth. Most returned home empty-handed, but successful prospectors found millions of dollars' worth of precious metal. What should they do with their new wealth? Many felt the Philadelphia Mint was too far away for safe travel, and the government wasn't ready to create other coining facilities.; A jack-of-all-trades named Templeton Reid had an answer: strike private gold coins, at a private mint. Reid had extensive experience as a watchmaker, gunsmith, and metalworker. In July 1830, he set up shop in the Georgia hamlet of Milledgeville, and began his brief career as private moneyer-the first since Ephraim Brasher.; Reid struck about a thousand of the $2.50 denomination. As with the larger $10 and $5 dollar denominations, most were later melted down and re-coined by the U.S. Mint. We can trace fewer than twenty-five survivors, including this one.
Location: Currently not on view

date made: 1830

maker: Reid, Templeton

ID Number: NU.68.159.1183
accession number: 283645
catalog number: 68.159.1183

One (1) 5 dollar coinUnited States, 1837 - 1842Obverse Image: Star.Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD. / 22 CARATS. / 128. G.Reverse Image: Star.Reverse Text: C: BECHTLER. AT RUTHERF: / 5 DOLLARS.Currently not on view

Description (Brief): One (1) 5 dollar coin; United States, 1837 - 1842; Obverse Image: Star.; Obverse Text: GEORGIA GOLD. / 22 CARATS. / 128. G.; Reverse Image: Star.; Reverse Text: C: BECHTLER. AT RUTHERF: / 5 DOLLARS.
Location: Currently not on view

date made: 1837 - 1842

ID Number: NU.68.159.1096
accession number: 283645
catalog number: 68.159.1096

Currently not on view

Location: Currently not on view

date made: 2009-06

ID Number: 2010.0019.137
accession number: 2010.0019
catalog number: 2010.0019.137
serial number: 0034