1851 "880" $50 RE Augustus Humbert MS(PCGS#10211)

The Regency Auction 44

拍卖行

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

批号

406

等级

AU53

价格

362,621

详细说明

This nearly CHOICE AU K-5 slug was sold in our June 2019 Regency Auction, where we wrote: " This is a very handsome example of this rare and impressive type. Wonderful honey-gold coloration coats the surfaces on both sides. Both sides are boldly defined,with just some minor weakness on the highest points of the design types. While lightly worn and showing some minor contact marks, these are very minimal. The edges are solid, free of any dings that usually plague the corners. This is quite the pleasing coin and when you consider how choppy a 2.5 ounce gold coin that circulated during the Gold Rush can be, this one is very high end. Without a doubt this is one of the more eye appealing AU examples you will encounter. Perennially popular among collectors, these “ingots" or “slugs" were struck in the U.S. Assay office in San Francisco, under the direction of Augustus Humbert. His mint operated for several years before the Federal government took over operations and eventually in 1854 opened as the official branch mint in San Francisco. Because of his reputation for honesty, Humbert’s operations put out of business many of the other assaying and minting firms that opened after the discovery of gold in California. Indeed, these “slugs" were so well received in “old west" commerce, even after the official branch mint at San Francisco poured federal issue gold coins into commercial streams, they were still widely circulated." PCGS 6, NGC 12, CAC 3. This totally original piece sold for $55,813 in our June 2019 Regency Auction. The current Collectors Universe value is listed at $67,500. There is something truly majestic about these hefty coins, they are rarely seen finer, and this is a great type that will delight any advanced collector or gold bug. Cert. Number 4191438-001 PCGS # 10211.00