The Piedmont region of North Carolina and Georgia provided most of the nation’s native gold supply until the California gold strikes in 1848. Christopher Bechtler and son August, plus his nephew, Christopher Jr., operated the Bechtler private mint from 1831 to at least 1852. The 30 grain $1 was struck by Christopher Bechtler circa 1831-34 and historically significant as the first gold dollar produced in the United States.