1849 - 40¢ California Rate + Express Fee |
France 5 Franc + Spanish Colonial Gold |
|
11 January 1851 New York
City to San Francisco, California, unpaid 40¢ rate |
| e |
| Mail service to San Francisco commenced in 1849 and the rate for letters from the East was 40¢. At San Francisco this letter was picked up by Reynold's Express and taken to the addressee at the mines. The $2 charge included the 40¢ postage due that Reynold's had paid when they picked up the letter. |
|
1840 France five francs coin |
1814 half escudo gold minted in Mexico City |
| e | |
|
The actual value of each of these coins was 93¢. However, both circulated widely in California at the rate of $1 each. The 1847 Donner Party to California carried large numbers of French 5 franc pieces as excavation at the site has shown. |
|
| e | |
| « Previous Page | |
|
|
|
|
Richard Frajola, May 2006 |
|