NC Stakes Claim as America's First Gold Rush

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Did you know that before the U.S. government began making gold dollars, North Carolina already had their own gold coin? Christopher Bechtler, a German-American goldsmith, produced the Bechtler Dollars in the early 1830's, which were used as currency. This month, UNC-TV will air their documentary on the Bechtler Dollars and their importance to not just North Carolina, but American history. If you're interested in attending the premier or catching it on TV, read part of the press release to find out more info:

Documentary on State’s Gold History to Premiere Sept. 29 in Rutherford County

"When reflecting upon America's gold rush, images of miners panning in sparkly California streams may first come to mind, but truth be told, our country's first gold rush actually began in North Carolina. Carolinians and Americans alike can learn the fascinating truth about the first days of gold in this country at the much-anticipated premiere of the UNC-TV produced documentary “Gold Fever & The Bechtler Mint” on Saturday, September 29, 7 p.m. at Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School in Rutherfordton, N.C. Admission is free.

Filmed in Rutherford County and other locations across the state, the 30-minute documentary tells the story of the Bechtler Mint during the years when North Carolina was the major gold mining state and of Christopher Bechtler of Rutherfordton who, in 1832, minted the first $1 gold coin in the nation (17 years before the U.S. mint). During the mid-1800s, the Bechtlers minted more than $2.24 million in gold coins. Generations later, descendants of the Bechtler family are finding a renewed interest in their ancestry and several are planning to attend the premier.

After being shown for the first time in Rutherford County, the documentary will begin airing statewide on UNC-TV Public Television on October 2 at 9 p.m. and October 4 at 10 p.m.

The premiere is a project of the Rutherfordton 225th Anniversary Committee and the Bechtler Premiere Sub-Committee in cooperation with the Bechtler Documentary Committee and UNC-TV.

Visit unctv.org for more information about UNC-TV.

For more information about the premiere, call 828-287-3520 or e-mail goldevent(at)rutherfordton(dot)net. To view photos of the Bechtler House, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bechtler-House/252650848164714."

You can read the entire article over at Yahoo! News.