Lot 1461
1852 U.S. Assay Office $50 Gold, 900 THOUS. NGC graded AU-50. This is a well struck example for the Territorial gold collector who appreciates quality and eye appeal. So many of these large, octagonal gold behemoths are found with significant bumps at the corners, but that is not the case here, and the surfaces show fewer handling marks than the usually seen. Furthermore, the lettering and devices offer the attractive orange-gold tinges intermixed in the protected areas. While these were originally struck in fairly large numbers, all but a modest number were melted and turned into later Federal coinage once the San Francisco Mint was up and running in 1854. The United States Assay Office, which struck these coins, issued them in various "fineness" blends, depending on their ability to get enough parting acids used to purify the gold coming out of the ground and rivers of Calfornia. There was so much gold that needed to be refined, that the early territorial minters were barely able to keep up with the demand. Pop 4; 31 finer at NGC. Estimate Value $40,000 - 44,000
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| Realized $39,950 |
