Gold and the Bechtlers
North Carolina had its «'old rush in the
early part of the nineteenth century and it
also had its own privately owned mint,
which was recognized by the Federal Gov¬
ernment.
OLD! GOLD!
The magic word spread like
wildfire over the Southeast
in the early part of the 19th century,
and the “gold rush” brought into
Burke County and adjoining coun¬
try of Western North Carolina for¬
tune hunters, adventurers and out¬
laws comparable to the days of the
storied forty-niners of the Golden
West.
Г
ntil recent years, spots about the
Brackton and Jeanstown communi¬
ties of Burke County and the north¬
ern fringe of Rutherford County were
so potted with holes left by these
gold-mad men that it was dangerous
for strangers to cross by night. Rude
graves of those who could not endure
the hardships are fast being hidden
by the grass and trees.
Jew. Gentile, Latin and Nordic
from all corners of the earth biv¬
ouacked there in the scramble for the
yellow dust, and just as suddenly dis¬
appeared when the California gold
strike sounded ’round the world.
Out of this wild scramble emerged
one man who was to leave his imprint
on the section — a humble German
metallurgist. Christopher Bechtler.
from the Grand Duchy of Baden.
With him was his son. Augustus. A
nephew, Christopher, his namesake,
joined him a short time later.
Scant Supply of Currency
There was but a scant supply of
state ami federal currency in the
Southeast, and the nearest mint was
in Philadelphia. Ilenco it was that
most of the gold mined was wrought
into jewelry, and the dust was used
extensively ns a medium of exchange.
These sacks of dust, often Hung over
the bar by drink-crazed adventurers,
frequently found their way to Colum¬
bia and Charleston, S. C. and went
to England.
The mint set up by Bechtler began
by coining $1, $2.50 and $5 gold
pieces. An announcement of the new
mint a short time later carried in the
Carolina Spectator and Western Ad¬
vertiser, set forth :
"To Georgia miners and others:
“The undersigned having coined a
great quantity of North Carolina gold
By J. B. HICK LIN
into pieces of $1. $2.5U and $5 values
of 20 carats fine, and being well pre¬
pared to increase the business to any
extent, is established three and one-
half miles on the road leading from
Rutherfordton to Jeanstown. invites
and therefore liable to produce an im-
pro|H>r value; gold in a fluxed state
of 22 and 23 carats is generally sold
OLD DOC
Old Doc rode through the wind
and sleet
With never a heater to warm
his feet.
Vo paved roads
For his powerful ear,
No soft cushions
To take the jar —
Only a horse, so brace and true
Who trailed outside in the bit¬
ter cold .
And. watched a light
Through a driving rain
When old doc quietly fought
with pain.
Old Doc’s coat had shiny seams.
And his pockets were empty
Most of the time.
Hut steady and kind and warm
his smile.
And the look in his eyes was
worth your while.
Did Doc—
God bless you everywhere .
The world moved smoother when
you were here.
In the Hook of Life,
one who loved his fellow men,
His name shines with stars
Like a diadem.
Katrkkine S. Swain.
for 84 cents per dwt in the bank,
whereas, if coined, is 90 or 91 cents;
consequently an actual saving of R
cents per dwt will he made by having
it coined after paying all expenses of
coining, etc. Should encouragement
be given, new dies will be made es¬
pecially for stamping South Carolina
and Georgia gold.
“lie would also make known here
the plan which he has adopted and
be accountable for the amount of the
value of the whole so ascertained. At
the same time returning to the owner
one-half dwt of each assay which lie
may keep for his own satisfaction, or
for the purpose of having it assayed
elsewhere to find its true value that
no deception or fraud may be prac¬
ticed. and in case there should be,
that he might have the means of de¬
tecting the same -for all which be¬
holds himself responsible. The follow¬
ing are his prices for fluxing; 400
dwt, or less $1 ; for assaying (by fire
ordeal) 1,000 dwt or less $1; for
coining
Щ
per cent, when the gold
is to be coined no charge is made for
assaying.
"He has on hand a handsome assort¬
ment of jewelry, watches, etc. Any
particular kind of jewelry will In-
executed to order in the neatest and
most skilful manner.
“C. Bechtler.”
While the amount of money minted
in the Bechtler plant is unknown,
records carefully preserved indicate
that from January 1S31 to February
1840 alone, gold was coined to the
face value of $2,241,850. and gold
fluxed to the value of $1,729,998. Coin¬
age there was almost abandoned in
1837 when a government mint was
established in Charlotte.
When the War Between the States
came on, currency was exceedingly
scarce and later very doubtful, and
hence the Bechtler coins were in great
demand. They were hoarded by those
the attention of miners of South Can
lina. as well as North Carolina, to the
advantage which would result from
having the product of their mines
coined or made into ingots bearing
their just value rather than disposing
of it in fluxed state, without an assuv
will pursue. On receiving a bar of
fluxed gold to be coined, the same will
lie divided, a portion assayed (by a
fire ordeal) for the purpose of ascer¬
taining its exact fineness, and he will
