Home of private North Carolina minter of nation's first gold dollar coin

Bechtler home open to celebrate town's 225th anniversary

By Coin World Staff | April 27, 2012 10:00 a.m.
Article first published in Web Content, Shows and Events section of Coin World
 
The home of the man who minted America’s first gold dollar coin is open to the public as part of the celebration of the founding of Rutherfordton, N.C., 225 years ago.

The former home of Christopher Bechtler Sr. is serving as a visitor’s center and museum in honor of the town’s year-long celebration.

$1 - ca1842 - A. BECHTLER

The obverse has the weight 27 g(rains) in the centre with CAROLINA GOLD around the top and the fineness 21 c(arat) at the bottom. The reverse has a large 1 in the centre with A. BECHTLER around the top and DOL9lar) at the bottom.

Gold was discovered in North Carolina in the early 1800s, leading to America'sa first "gold rush." The first gold $1 coins made in the United States were privately minted issues. In 1830, Christopher Bechtler born in Baden, Germany, bought land in Rutherford County, North Carolina. In 1831, he opened a private mint near Rutherfordton responding to the growing public need for reliable assaying and minting of gold by the mining community. The Bechtler mint operated successfully from 1831 to circa 1857 under the direction of Christopher Bechtler, Sr. along with his son Augustus, and nephew Christopher, Jr. The Bechtler mint has the distinction of minting the first gold dollar in America. Most Bechtler coins are stamped C. BECHTLER or A. BECHTLER, along with the weight in grams and the number of carats, or amount of gold in the alloy.

Bechtler’s private mint was in operation from 1831 to 1852 and produced more than $2.25 million in gold coinage from gold found in North Carolina. Coins were produced in $1, $2.50 and $5 denominations of various weights and sizes. German-born metallurgist Bechtler struck and issued the coins with the assistance of his son, August, and nephew, Christopher.

The Bechtler family continued to issue their private gold coins even after the United States Mint opened Branch Mints in Charlotte, N.C., and Dahlonega, Ga., in 1838. Those facilities struck U.S. gold coins from the locally mined gold. Both Branch Mints operated until 1861, when they were taken over by the Confederate States of America, operated briefly under that government and then closed.

The Bechtler House Museum & Visitor’s Information Network Center is open from 3 to 7 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The Bechtler House is located at 130 W. Sixth St. in Rutherfordton, N.C.

For more information, contact Jackie Wallace, Rutherford County Tourism, at 828-287-6113 or email her at jackie.wallace@rutherfordcountync.gov, or visit the town’s website at www.rutherfordtown.com