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

August 2019 ANA U.S. Coins Auction Rosemont, IL

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

5470

等级

AU58

价格

465,861

详细说明

Glorious 1852 U.S. Assay Office of Gold 887 THOUS $50 1852 United States Assay Office of Gold $50. K-13. Rarity-5. 887 THOUS. AU-58 (NGC). This is an exceptionally well preserved, uncommonly attractive survivor of a scarce and conditionally challenging California Gold Rush issue. Vivid medium gold surfaces reveal a tinge of pale rose as the coin rotates under a light. Boldly to sharply defined apart from a touch of softness to the central obverse high point, the peripheral inscription on that side is fully legible and the date is clear. Lustrous with a satin to modestly semi-prooflike finish that is most intense when viewed with the aid of a strong light source. There are no individually mentionable marks, and the rims are uncommonly smooth for a type that is usually encountered with significant edge problems. 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. Soon after 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 of 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, many also impaired due to cleaning, edge and/or surface damage. Problem-free, aesthetically appealing Choice AU examples, as here, are exceedingly rare and enthusiastically sought after as ideal examples of a classic design. NGC Census: 14; 12 finer (MS-62 finest). The corresponding PCGS Population is 3/5 (MS-63 finest). PCGS# 10016. NGC ID: ANHG. Click here for certification details from NGC.