Saturday Trivia: !!!GOLD!!! *Answer Given*

[WoodenJefferson]

From the very late 1700's (post Revolutionary War era) till the mid-early 1800's (pre Civil War era) what region of the United States provided most of our nations gold?

 

Name the State: Pretty darn smart

 

Name the County: Intellectual

 

Name the City: Yaaar genius

 

Name all three and win this handy organizer:

[123cents]

I'll guess:

 

North Carolina

Mecklenburg County

Charlotte

[WoodenJefferson]

123cents, your: "pretty darn smart"

 

you have the state, North Carolina

 

now, refine the county & town.

[123cents]

One last guess:

Cabarrus County

Midland North Carolina.

[WoodenJefferson]

One last guess:

Cabarrus County

Midland North Carolina.

 

Still no cigar...think southwestern part of NC

[PerryHall]

A lot of gold came out of California during the pre-civil war era (1848 when gold was discovered until 1861 when the civil war started).

[WoodenJefferson]

PerryHall, this is correct about Califonia gold, but prior to the discovery there in 1848, North Carolina was the source of our nations gold, begining in 1790.

 

Ans: Rutherfordton, Rutherford County, North Carolina, supplied most of the nation's gold from 1790 to 1840.

 

 

 

At one time Rutherford County and Rutherfordton were the center of gold production within the United States. Rutherfordton owns the distinction of operating the only private gold mint ever operated in the southeastern United States. This distinction existed from 1790's to 1840's. Also, Rutherfordton owns the distinction of being the first mint in the nation to coin a gold dollar. This mint was operated by two skilled German metallurgists, Christopher Bechtler, Sr. and his son, Augustus Bechtler. The county has in its possession today, a few of the coins minted by the Bechtlers. It also has a gold plated pistol made by the Bechtlers. Gold mining in the county led to an increase in population.

 

 

links

raregold.com link

rutherford county link

 

You are here:

 

 

 

Historical Markers of Rutherford County

Bechtler Mint , along Highway 221

 

 

CHRISTOPHER BECHTLER

ONE DOLLAR -

28 GRAINS, N REVERSED

Variety Equivalents:

Kagin 4, Breen 7761, KM 87, Taxay 16, Stack 1

Diameter: ±17 millimeters

Metal content:

Gold - 83.3%

Other - 16.7%

Weight: ±28 grains (±1.8 grams)

Edge: Plain

 

Note: the N in ONE is actually oriented backwards on this strike.

(images of gold coin courtesy of CoinFacts.com)

[123cents]