1852 $10 Wass, Molitor & Co. Small Head MS(PCGS#10345)

August 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1321

等级

XF40

价格

100,037

详细说明

Rare 1852 Wass, Molitor & Co. $10 1852 Wass, Molitor & Co. $10. K-3. Rarity-7. Small Head. EF-40 (PCGS). This is a truly superior example with sharpness and eye appeal that is rarely found among Territorial gold coins. The strike is exceptional, with a crisp date and distinct denticles on both sides. The surfaces are smooth and attractive, with just a few inconsequential marks noted under a glass. A small cluster of abrasions are visible in the right obverse field, while the reverse shows a couple ancient marks on the shield and above the denomination. Overall olive-gold in color with traces of luster shadowing the devices. The firm of Wass, Molitor & Company was founded by Count Samuel C. Wass and Agoston P. Molitor, both expatriates in the aftermath of the 1848 Hungarian independence movement. Trained in metallurgy and seeing opportunity in the gold fields of California, the pair announced the formation of Wass, Molitor & Co. as an assay office on October 14, 1851. Initially the firm did not intend to strike their own coins, but not long after opening their doors, in January 1852 they announced that they would produce what they referred to as "small coin" in $5 and $10 denominations. For the $10 coins, Wass, Molitor & Co. used dies originally prepared for and used by Dubosq & Co. for their $10 gold pieces dated 1850. In 1851 when that firm shuttered its doors, the dies were sold to Wass and Molitor, who then made some modifications for their own use. The reverse die was put into use with little if any modification, but the obverse die was carefully reworked to remove traces of the DUBOSQ & Co. on the headband and replace it with W. M. & Co. on high grade examples hints of the U and S in DUBOSQ are visible under the first and second periods. In addition, there is a circular raised area under the 2 in the date where it is thought that the original 0 in the date was drilled out and replaced with the 2. Of the two varieties of 1852 $10 gold piece, the Small Head is quite a bit rarer and challenging to acquire in any degree of preservation. Best estimates place about 15 to 20 known specimens, none of which are Mint State. PCGS Population: 4; 6 finer. PCGS# 10345. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.