Lot 1787
1852 Wass, Molitor & Co. (San Francisco) $10 Gold. Large head. PCGS graded AU-55. Lovely golden toning. Lustrous satiny golden orange surfaces with rich champagne highlights. Nearly full hair and eagle detail, we note a single chattermark on the jaw near the ear. A truly beautiful AU55 specimen of a much scarcer Territorial mint issue from our California pioneer heritage.
According to the Kagin reference on this series (which no Territorial specialist should be without), "Evidently the reverse dies were obtained from Dubosq & Co. as they appear to be identical. Moffat & Co., operating for the United States Assay Office, also coined issues in 1852. Evidently these issues filled the monetary needs of the area for some time as no Wass, Molitor & Co. coins were struck bearing 1853 or 1854 dates." Pop 5; 4 finer, 1 in 58, 1 in 60, 2 in 62 (PCGS # 10348) .
Estimated Value $12,000 - 14,000.
Ex: Al Blythe Collection.
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| Realized $10,925 |
