Christopher Bechtler
Encyclopedia
Christopher Bechtler (1782–1843) was a German-American goldsmith
and watchmaker
. He became rich and famous through an American gold rush
based on his concept of producing defined gold dollar
s, the Bechtler Dollars, in the early 1830s and by 1840, before the US government itself started to produce gold dollar
s in 1849.
, Margraviate of Baden
. In 1767 Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, allowed watch manufacturing in Pforzheim and started a technical school. The latter gave ground to further educational institutions and is now the Goldschmiedeschule mit Uhrmacherschule Pforzheim (Jewelers and Watchmakers School of Pforzheim); Bechtler was trained there. Around 1820, Bechtler spotted small gold traces in Stubensand, an early household abrasive
. In 1823 he requested a mining concession and tried placer mining
for gold in the late triassic
Stubensandstein around neighboring Sternenfels
where the Stubensand was produced. The amount of gold found was not satisfactory, but Bechtler asked for a Ducal Baden
sian Patent for his gold washing machine in 1819.
In 1829 Bechtler and his family, his wife, two sons and a nephew, emigrated to the United States. In 1830 he opened a watchmaker store in Philadelphia, the site of the first US Mint, but he quickly went further to North Carolina
during one of the early gold rushes.
, was run from 1831 till the 1850s and produced more than a million gold coins from 1831 till 1841. Bechtler's precision and the reliable gold content of his coins allowed him to prevail against other producers and to obtain a large fortune. He died in Rutherfordton, North Carolina
. Bechtler coins today are collectables of high esteem.
35.38982°N 81.96006°W
: 20 carats, 21 carats, and 22 carats. At the time and within the limits of the existing technology, the coins were considered of honest weight.
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
and watchmaker
Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
. He became rich and famous through an American gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
based on his concept of producing defined gold dollar
Gold dollar
The gold dollar was a United States dollar coin produced from 1849 to 1889. Composed of 90% pure gold, it was the smallest denomination of gold currency ever produced by the United States federal government...
s, the Bechtler Dollars, in the early 1830s and by 1840, before the US government itself started to produce gold dollar
Gold dollar
The gold dollar was a United States dollar coin produced from 1849 to 1889. Composed of 90% pure gold, it was the smallest denomination of gold currency ever produced by the United States federal government...
s in 1849.
Life
Bechtler was born in PforzheimPforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
, Margraviate of Baden
Margraviate of Baden
The Margraviate of Baden were a historical territory in the Holy Roman Empire. It was already named so in 1112 and existed until the division in 1535 and lived with the reunion back in 1771, until the Electorate of Baden came up in 1803...
. In 1767 Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, allowed watch manufacturing in Pforzheim and started a technical school. The latter gave ground to further educational institutions and is now the Goldschmiedeschule mit Uhrmacherschule Pforzheim (Jewelers and Watchmakers School of Pforzheim); Bechtler was trained there. Around 1820, Bechtler spotted small gold traces in Stubensand, an early household abrasive
Abrasive
An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away...
. In 1823 he requested a mining concession and tried placer mining
Placer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
for gold in the late triassic
Late Triassic
The Late Triassic is in the geologic timescale the third and final of three epochs of the Triassic period. The corresponding series is known as the Upper Triassic. In the past it was sometimes called the Keuper, after a German lithostratigraphic group that has a roughly corresponding age...
Stubensandstein around neighboring Sternenfels
Sternenfels
Sternenfels, consisting of the villages of Diefenbach and Sternenfels, is the most northern municipality in the Enz in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The town is located at the border of the Kraichgau and Stromberg regions. Sternenfels is considered a showcase village and was mentioned in several...
where the Stubensand was produced. The amount of gold found was not satisfactory, but Bechtler asked for a Ducal Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
sian Patent for his gold washing machine in 1819.
In 1829 Bechtler and his family, his wife, two sons and a nephew, emigrated to the United States. In 1830 he opened a watchmaker store in Philadelphia, the site of the first US Mint, but he quickly went further to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
during one of the early gold rushes.
The Bechtler Private Mint
Bechtler and his predecessors' private mint in Rutherford County, North CarolinaRutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, was run from 1831 till the 1850s and produced more than a million gold coins from 1831 till 1841. Bechtler's precision and the reliable gold content of his coins allowed him to prevail against other producers and to obtain a large fortune. He died in Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Rutherfordton is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rutherford County.-Geography:Rutherfordton is located at ....
. Bechtler coins today are collectables of high esteem.
35.38982°N 81.96006°W
Coinage
The Bechtler's mint produced coins in three denominations: $1, $2.50, and $5, and the coins were struck in three FinenessFineness
The fineness of a precious metal refers to the ratio of the primary metal to any additives or impurities.A piece of alloy metal containing a precious metal may have the weight of its precious component referred to as its fine weight. For example, 1 troy ounce of 18 karat gold may be said to have a...
: 20 carats, 21 carats, and 22 carats. At the time and within the limits of the existing technology, the coins were considered of honest weight.