What were pioneer gold coins?

Pioneer gold coins were coins that minted by private mints during the gold rush era of the mid-1800s. These coins were a way for frontiersman to legitimize their new-found gold by turning it into freshly minted currency. These coins were unregulated and were often smaller in size and of less value than standardized gold coins. These coins were still accepted in the new frontier economy, and in fact played a crucial role in the economic development of the western United States.

 

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