The Bowies of Maryland were related to the inventor of the Bowie knife, James, and the man who died at the Alamo in Texas, Jim. Joseph Haskins Bowie was born on January 25, 1816. He grew up on a plantation in Maryland. Researchers believe that he visited a branch of the family that lived in North Carolina and saw the gold strikes and local mints, those of Reid or the Bechtlers. The coins that Bowie eventually made are similar to those of the Bechtlers.

Eventually Haskins joined his cousin Augustus in San Francisco after serving in the Navy. Dr. Augustus Bowie, a surgeon, had an office across the street from Moffat and Company. Haskins was accompanied by his other cousins, Hyde Ray and Hamilton Bowie. Because they had to make the trip partially over land, the Isthmus of Panama, they did not have coin-making equipment with them and probably only brought dies that had been engraved in the East.

Although Bowie had no new equipment, he was probably able to buy or borrow what he needed to strike coins using his original dies. Only two of his coins remain. They are gold pieces that have an intrinsic value greater than its monetary value. Consequently, anyone who had such a coin submitted it for bullion to make a profit.

After moving from California, Bowie lived in Mexico, Texas and finally in Monticello, Illinois. While on a visit to St. Louis, Missouri in 1879, he died. His cousins Hyde and Hamilton did not stay in the assaying business. Hyde became a partner in a law firm, and Hamilton speculated in real estate.

The J.H. Bowie gold coins are five dollar pieces. The obverse shows a pine tree with the inscription CAL GOLD above and 1849 below. The reverse shows the company name, the denomination and 879/137 GRS.