Rare $10 Mormon coin up for auction in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A Utah auctioneer says he thinks a gold coin minted by Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley could fetch more than $500,000 before bidding ends Thursday night.

Tyson Emery is a coin expert from All About Coins in Sugar House.

He tells KSL-TV he already has a $375,000 online bid for the $10 coin made by early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settlers.

He says the territorial coin dates to the 1800s, when U.S. coins and currency were scarce.

Mormon currency made from mid-century California gold ore came in denominations including $2 1/2, $5, $10 and $20.

The LDS Church History Museum has a replica display featuring coins, dies and other equipment.

Simple and rugged designs showed clasped hands, with uneven lettering and numbers.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!