HISTORY OF 1856 "UPRIGHT 5" GOLD DOLLAR

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 38, 2025, Article 12

A new documentary discusses the important historical role played by the 1856 "Upright 5" gold dollar and the mystery it was key in unraveling. Here is the press release from Fancaster Inc., which funded and produced the documentary video. -Garrett

An 1856 gold dollar coin's story, buried in historical archives for nearly 170 years, is revealed in "Buried History – How Counterfeiting Changed America," a newly released documentary video posted on YouTube at https://youtu.be/PqKJUekcryI?si=BxRisDyh-pffxuZP.

The rare 1856 Upright 5 variety gold dollar comprising the Deadwood Collection has long been recognized as a variety by gold collectors, but the key historical role it played had been unknown until a recent discovery.

Many collectors had wondered why coins in the early 1850s had "Slanted 5s" in the date and then suddenly became Upright. Few would have guessed the answer would lie in the counterfeiting of our nation's coins, virtually from its beginning through more than five decades as it expanded westward.

Regardless of whether you are an advanced collector or just becoming interested in coins, this video will give you a new appreciation of coins and a deeper understanding of our nation's history.

"The CEO of Fancaster Inc. is a coin collector and history buff. He contacted me as a writer/researcher at the suggestion of a PR professional who was familiar with my writing and research during the past 20 years focusing on modern counterfeits. The question the CEO was interested in research help with was what was the reason for changing the design type on U.S. coin date numerals to italic (what collectors labeled "Slanted") then back to regular or "Upright" during the 1850s. The change is most noticeable on the numeral 5.

"Months of research led us to the fact that counterfeiting of money (paper and coins) had plagued the young nation as it fought for independence and then as it struggled to provide coins as the county expanded. The change from Slanted to Upright was integral to the U.S. Mint's attempt to combat counterfeiting and restore confidence in the nation's coinage. "