5 Dollar, John Parsons & Co., United States, 1861

5 Dollar, John Parsons & Co., United States, 1861

<< >>
Usage conditions apply
Downloads
Description (Brief)
One (1) 5 dollar coin
United States, 1861
Obverse Image: Quartz reduction mill.
Obverse Text: JNO PARSON & CO. / ORO
Reverse Image: Eagle with shield clutching arrows and olive branch.
Reverse Text: PIKES PEAK GOLD / FIVE D.
Description
The other pioneer mint in Colorado was the brainchild of an Indiana metallurgist, Dr. John D. Parsons. He appeared in Denver in the summer of 1858, and soon headed for Oro City with his assaying tools. He set up a business at Tarryall Mines, midway between Tarryall and Hamilton.
John Parsons's chosen trade was now that of coiner. He struck quarter and half eagles, whose obverses depicted a stamping mill, that essential piece of equipment for separating gold from its quartz matrix. A somewhat crude rendition of the American eagle held sway on the reverses of his coins. Parsons's products look primitive compared with Clark, Gruber's wares, and they may have been struck by hand.
However they were created, very few have survived. Six of John Parsons's quarter eagles are known, and only five of his halves.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
coin
Date made
1861
maker
John Parsons & Co.
place made
United States: Colorado
place of issue
United States: Colorado
Physical Description
gold (overall metal)
0 (overall die axis)
0 (overall die axis measurement)
struck (overall production method)
Measurements
overall: 22.2 mm; x 7/8 in
ID Number
NU.68.159.1179
accession number
283645
catalog number
68.159.1179
Credit Line
Estate of Josiah K. Lilly
See more items in
Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
Coins, Currency and Medals
Josiah K. Lilly Jr. Collection
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.   

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.

Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.