Obverse Image: Liberty facing left, wearing a coronet. Stars around.
Obverse Text: 1861 / PIKES PEAK
Reverse Image: Heraldic eagle with shield clutching arrows and olive branch.
Reverse Text: CLARK GRUBER & CO / DENVER / TEN D.
Description:
In 1858, a gold rush was triggered by finds along the South Platte River, in Colorado. To fulfill local demand, a firm named Clark, Gruber & Co. began private coinage of gold shortly thereafter. This ten dollar coin from 1861 is minted in conscious imitation of official US coinage. Clark, Gruber & Co.’s facilities would eventually become the basis for the Denver branch mint.