When most people think of a dollar coin they think of those larger coins that you can get at any bank to give to your kids or grandkids. When you see gold one dollar coins you are sure to be surprised that these original coins were actually smaller than an everyday common dime that is seen in circulation today. These gold coins first came about shortly after gold was first discovered in California, and the United States government decided to get this into circulation as fast as possible. These coins first came into production in 1849 and soon became some of the most used and most struck coins of the time.

The most common one dollar gold coins were produced in Philadelphia between the years of 1851 and 1853. It is said that well over ten million of these coins were struck and put into circulation. They were also considered to be the most commonly forged coins in American history.

Some of the rarest of the gold one dollar coins that were struck were produced when the Confederacy took over the mint in Dahlonega, Georgia. It is said that the most coins ever produced from this mint were less than 1,250 in all. These coins were struck in 1861 and have become one of the most sought after gold coins for collectors the world over.

One thing that collectors should keep an eye out for when looking at these one dollar gold coins is if there are any soldering marks on them. There was a time in history when it was common fashion to make these small delicate coins into pieces of jewelry. As such, the coins that have been made into jewelry and then cheaply refurbished have lost value over the years. Keep this in mind if you ever come across someone trying to sell off these coins at a high amount as they are probably either forgeries, or they have been used in the making of jewelry at one time or another in their past. If you do find coins that have marks on the edge, then they will definitely not be worth what mint, or near mint, condition coins of this type would normally be worth.