1849 $5 Norris, Plain Edge MS (PCGS#10279)
August 2011 Chicago ANA - Rarities Night
- 拍卖行
- Stack's Bowers
- 批号
- 7544
- 等级
- AU53
- 价格
- 95,496
- 详细说明
- 1849 Norris, Gregg & Norris $5 Gold. K-2. Rarity-5. Plain Edge. AU-53 (PCGS). CAC. Bright yellow gold with bold luster, olive iridescence, and some deeper golden highlights on the high points. We note a few scattered marks, but fewer than might be expected for the assigned grade and its degree of circulation—judging by many of the surviving specimens, these saw heavy commercial duty in an era where small change was at a premium. An altogether pleasing example of an issue that is generally reckoned today to be the first of the Gold Rush coinage. The firm, composed of Thomas H. Norris, Charles Gregg, and Hiram A. Norris, had its origins on Gold Street in New York City, a prophetic address for the would-be '49ers. They departed for the gold fields in early 1849, and as early as May of that year they reportedly struck coins at Benicia City, California, though no examples of that coinage are known today; the <em>Daily Alta California</em> edition of May 31, 1849 published information about their early coinage endeavors. The obverse design features a federal-style eagle at center with a 5 emblazoned on its shield, CALIFORNIA GOLD arcing above the eagle, and WITHOUT ALLOY curving below. The reverse, placed "heads-up" in the PCGS holder, features a circle of 22 tiny stars, 1849 at the center, with N. G & N. arcing above and SAN FRANCISCO curving below. FULL WEIGHT OF HALF EAGLE—which they <em>weren't</em>—encircles the stars. We are pleased to offer the present coin, as it affords a great embarkation point for those who may be interested in collecting Gold Rush issues, especially those with ties to the '49ers of yore. <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I5pnv-QReKE" frameborder="0" width="560" height="349"></iframe>
查看原拍卖信息