The 1954 film "The Black Dakotas" is set in the American Dakota Territory in 1864 during the American Civil War (1861 to 1865). A United States government agent arrives to buy peace with the Indian tribes, and $130,000 in gold is following him. A Southern Confederate agent arrives, murders the US agent, and impersonates him. The gold, when it arrives, is in gold coin.

Zachary Paige is a United States government agent riding on a stagecoach to the town of Good Luck in the Dakota Territory.

The stagecoach has the emblem of the town of Good Luck. The stage is held up by a Confederate agent and his gang, and the Confederate Brock Marsh takes Paige's papers, kills him, and impersonates him. The Confederate gang's official reason is to take the gold south to help the rebels, who, in 1864, are losing the war. Marsh then heads into the town of Good Luck.

Marsh tells his version of the holdup to sheriff Mike Daugherty. Standing next to Marsh with the red bandana is Joe Woods, who knows who Marsh really is. Since Marsh is supposed to be a government agent negotiating a treaty, he visits the Indians. There are two Indian chiefs, War Cloud is older and in favor of the treaty, and Black Buffalo, who is against it and doesn't like settlers in general.

Black Buffalo has Marsh tied up and plans to set him on fire, but relents and allows him to fight for his life with an Indian. Sheriff Mike Daugherty and some men arrive, free Marsh, and head back to town. Another Confederate agent, Lawrence, is arrested and is to be executed in the traditional Western manner. His daughter, Ruth Lawrence, arrives to protest the hanging.

The mob disarms her and proceeds with the event, she then leaves and joins her lover, Sheriff Mike. Later Mike meets with a group of men and is informed that the guarded stagecoach with the gold will soon arrive.

Mike has become suspicious of Marsh after a couple of local men are killed and a well-dressed man's body was found near the scene of the stagecoach robbery. Woods has discovered that Marsh intends to keep the gold for himself and cuts himself in on the deal. The pair go on another trip, this time to meet the head chief War Cloud.

They come to some agreement, and then find Mike and Ruth, who are captured, then Mike escapes. Marsh, Woods, and their gang leave Ruth and head out to hijack the stage.

The money stage arrives guarded by US Cavalry.

The robbery gang overpowers the guards and takes a strongbox with the gold.

The gold is in the form of gold coins packed in bags. Ruth has unfortunately arrived to see Marsh shoot his partner.

Marsh flees on horseback with the gold, but the Indians arrive, forcing Marsh to turn around.

Marsh drops the bags of gold onto the ground.

These appear to be standard "Radiant Eagle" game tokens or prop coins.

Sheriff Mike manages to catch up with Marsh and he is presumably hung. The Indian chiefs come into town to sign the treaty and pick up the money.

Gary Merrill as Brock Marsh / Zachary Paige
Wanda Hendrix as Ruth Lawrence
John Bromfield as Mike Daugherty
Noah Beery Jr. as Gimpy Joe Woods
Richard Webb as Frank Gibbs
Jay Silverheels as Black Buffalo
John War Eagle as Chief War Cloud
Director: Ray Nazarro
Writers: Ray Buffum, DeVallon Scott