1849-C Gold Dollar (Charlotte Mint, Open Wreath): The Southern Branch Mint's First Year

In 1849, the United States government established a new denomination for the first time in decades: the gold dollar. This small, thin coin, just 13mm in diameter and weighing a scant 1.672 grams, was designed to meet the practical demands of small commercial transactions in an era when gold was pouring out of California following the discovery at Sutter's Mill. The coins were struck at four mints, but for serious collectors, the 1849-C gold dollar from the Charlotte Mint carries a specific historical weight that makes it one of the most significant small coins in American numismatics.

The Charlotte Mint Background

The Charlotte Mint in Charlotte, North Carolina, operated from 1838 to 1861 (when it was seized by Confederate forces). It was established specifically to convert gold from the North Carolina and nearby Southern Appalachian gold fields into coinage. Unlike the Philadelphia Mint (the primary mint) and later San Francisco, Charlotte was a small branch mint that processed only gold coins.

The "C" mintmark on Charlotte-produced coins is one of the most recognizable in American numismatics, appearing on quarter eagles ($2.50), half eagles ($5), and from 1849, gold dollars. The Charlotte coins have long been collector favorites for their regional significance, their relatively modest mintages, and the fascinating history of their production location (now the site of a Wells Fargo branch, with the Mint Museum operating from the original building's reconstruction).

The First Year Gold Dollar (1849-C)

The 1849 gold dollar was the first of the Type I "Liberty Head" or "Coronet" design, designed by James Longacre. In this first year of issue, two distinct varieties of the design appeared:

Open Wreath (OW): The wreath on the reverse does not close at the bottom of the coin Closed Wreath (CW): The wreath closes at the bottom

Both varieties were struck at all active mints in 1849, including Charlotte. The 1849-C Open Wreath (Scott PCGS #7506) and 1849-C Closed Wreath (#7507) are both collectible, but the Open Wreath represents the absolute first-issue type and commands particular interest from type collectors.

The Charlotte 1849 gold dollar exists in two known forms for the Open Wreath: regular production coins and a reported unique specimen. The regular coins had a reported mintage in the range of approximately 11,634 pieces, though the distinction between Open and Closed Wreath production volumes at Charlotte is not precisely documented in surviving records.

Why the Charlotte 1849-C Is Especially Significant

Several factors converge:

First-year gold dollar: Any 1849 gold dollar represents the introduction of a new denomination. Charlotte's first-year production participates in that history while adding Southern branch mint distinction.

Gold Rush era: 1849 is the California Gold Rush year. Though Charlotte processed Southern Appalachian gold rather than California gold, the timing connects this coin to the single most dramatic year in American monetary history.

Southern branch mint character: Charlotte coins have a specific aesthetic character, often showing slightly softer strikes than Philadelphia production, that experienced numismatists recognize and value as authentic to the branch mint production environment.

Small branch mint mintages: Charlotte's production was always modest compared to Philadelphia. This structural scarcity supports long-term value.

Current Market Values

Grade	1849-C Open Wreath (Approx. Value)
VF-20/25	$800 - $1,500
EF-40/45	$1,500 - $4,000
AU-50/55	$4,000 - $10,000
AU-58	$8,000 - $18,000
MS-60/61	$20,000 - $40,000
MS-62/63	$40,000 - $100,000
MS-64+	Extremely rare, auction-dependent

The PCGS CoinFacts database documents certified examples across the grade range. Note that mint state examples are genuinely rare; the vast majority of surviving 1849-C gold dollars grade below AU.

Important context: Because of this coin's small size and historical rarity, many examples have been cleaned, polished, mounted (drilled for jewelry use), or otherwise damaged. Problem-free, uncleaned examples at any grade command meaningful premiums over coins with issues.

The Type I Gold Dollar Design

The Type I design (used 1849-1854) is the first of three distinct gold dollar design types:

• Type I (1849-1854): Small Liberty Head, 13mm diameter

• Type II (1854-1856): Larger design, Indian Princess, 15mm diameter

• Type III (1856-1889): Larger Indian Princess, modified design

Type I gold dollars are the smallest US gold coins ever made at 13mm, which contributes to both their charm and their fragility. Rims are thin and vulnerable to damage.

Authentication and Grading Considerations

For the 1849-C specifically:

Mintmark location: The "C" mintmark appears on the reverse, below the wreath. It must be present and identifiable. Some worn examples have indistinct mintmarks that require magnification to confirm.

Strike characteristics: Charlotte Mint coins often have softer strikes than Philadelphia production. In particular, the hair details on the obverse and the wreath details on the reverse may not be as sharp as equivalent Philadelphia pieces. This is normal for branch mint coins and not a grading negative per se, but should be understood.

Cleaning: Gold coins of this era were frequently cleaned, polished, or "improved" by well-meaning (or deceptive) previous owners. Cleaned gold shows artificial brightness and surface hairlines. PCGS and NGC will note cleaned examples and assign a "details" grade rather than a clean grade.

Mounting damage: Gold dollar-sized coins were frequently mounted for jewelry use (pendant drills, bezel settings). Check the rim at 12 o'clock for hole drilling and around the coin's edge for signs of prior mounting.

The Charlotte Mint Collection Context

Building a complete collection of Charlotte Mint gold coinage is a significant numismatic undertaking. The C-mint series includes quarter eagles and half eagles dating back to 1838, and completing the run across denominations and years challenges some of the best-resourced collectors in the hobby. The 1849-C gold dollar is invariably part of any serious Charlotte collection.

Given the Charlotte Mint's unique role in Southern American history (including the Civil War events that ended its operation), coins from this mint carry additional historical resonance for collectors of Southern Americana.

Investment Perspective

Branch mint gold dollars from the Charlotte and Dahlonega mints have consistently outperformed Philadelphia production at equivalent grades in long-term value growth, reflecting the strong demand from both type collectors and regional specialists. High-grade examples of the 1849-C have sold at record prices in recent major auctions.

Problem-free examples at any grade are the correct acquisition target. A cleaned AU is worth dramatically less than an uncleaned VF, and that principle applies at every grade level.

Final Thoughts

The 1849-C gold dollar is one of those coins that packs enormous historical significance into an extraordinarily small package. At 13mm diameter, it's roughly the size of a dime, yet it connects you to the year America discovered gold in California, the Southern gold fields that preceded it, the branch mint system that processed that gold, and the beginning of a denomination that served commerce for 40 years. For numismatists who value history as much as rarity, this tiny coin is one of the most satisfying acquisitions in the entire series.

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