1852 "887" $50 U.S. Assay Office MS(PCGS#10016)

August 2021 ANA U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4305

等级

XF45+

价格

279,869

详细说明

Beautiful 1852 K-13 Assay Office of Gold $50 Slug 1852 United States Assay Office of Gold $50. K-13. Rarity-5. 887 THOUS. EF-45+ (PCGS). Scarce in an absolute sense, this is among the most historic and coveted issues of the California Gold Rush. Honey-bronze and powder blue iridescence surround the devices and accent the tangerine patina. The strike is pleasing for the type, with sharp central elements and the usual weakness at the borders. The edges are nicely preserved and free of the significant blemishes that often mar these "slugs". An old mark below the fineness serves as a convenient pedigree marker and the surfaces are otherwise without distractions. The earliest of the $50 pieces were produced in 1851 under Augustus Humbert's name at a non-federal .880 fine standard, which quickly rose to .887 fine. In 1852, Humbert's name was entirely removed and the slugs were then struck under the name of the United States Assay Office of Gold, but still at the same .887 standard. Things proceeded well for the Assay Office and even smaller denomination coins were struck. An unexpected blow came in the form of legislation passed in August 1852 that suddenly forbade the Customs Office from accepting any gold coin not struck at the federally-mandated .900 purity. This legislation resulted in the replacement of the 887 THOUS pieces, Kagin-13 represented here, with the K-14 900 THOUS type. Today, perhaps a few hundred of these impressive $50 gold "slugs" of all types are extant, most of which are well worn and also impaired due to cleaning, edge and/or surface damage. Problem free and attractive EF examples, like the present, are highly desirable This one is a new discovery from northern California and has never before been offered for sale. PCGS# 10016. Click herefor 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. Click here to see Coins in Motion.[“Coins]