The Mormon gold coinage consisted of privately-issued tokens which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints struck from 1848 to 1860.[2] They were issued in $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 denominations.[3]

An 1849 $20 gold piece with a Phrygian cap above the "eye of Jehovah" on the obverse.[1] "G. S. L. C. P. G." on the reverse stands for "Great Salt Lake City Pure Gold".[2]

The first coins were minted in 1848 in Salt Lake City, with gold found at Mormon Island, California. About 4000 coins were made before Utah Territory governor Alfred Cumming ordered production to cease in 1861.[1]

Some coins had an inscription in the Deseret alphabet: 𐐐𐐄𐐢𐐆𐐤𐐝 𐐓𐐅 𐐜 𐐢𐐃𐐡𐐔 ("Holiness to the Lord").[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Williams, Carter (25 August 2016). "Looking back at 'Mormon Gold' coins, other historical Utah currencies". KSL.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Gikes, Paul (17 June 2016). "Mormon gold coin surfaces from half century in box". Coin World. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ McCord, Keith (25 April 2014). "Rare Mormon coins bring in millions of dollars at auction". Deseret News. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. ^ Flack, Dora D. (July 1985). "The Deseret Alphabet". The Friend. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
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