Best Of The West Live Auction (November 13, 2026 5:30 PM PT)

Circa 1878–1890, applied top, fifth. A popular Western fifth featuring bold, extensive embossing. Although the trademark for this design was not filed until 1885, advanced West Coast diggers have reported recovering examples from late 1870s and early 1880s contexts on numerous occasions. It is therefore likely that Crane, Hastings & Co. had been using the design for several years prior to officially registering the trademark. The brand appears to have been particularly popular in Washington State, where a surprising number of examples have been dug. Applied–top examples occur in two molds: an earlier variant characterized by flatter, rounder embossing, richer color variations, and a smaller applied top, and a later reworked mold with sharper embossing, less color variation, and a larger, distinctly mid–to–late–1880s style top. Finding an example that combines a strong strike with any shade of yellow or olive is extremely difficult.

Description & Condition: Strong strike in the early mold. Great color with a pleasing amount of olive. Appears to have been professionally cleaned. Minor interior stain remains in the neck and shoulder. A few insignificant surface impacts, the largest measuring approximately 1/16" on the U in Bourbon, along with two smaller flakes on the base edge.

Min. Bid $1,000 - Est. $2,000–$4,000