Lot 924
(1849) J. S. Ormsby & Co. Sacramento, $10 Gold. The crude, simple design is entirely visible, though a trifle weak in places. Both sides reveal no marks of any consequence.
Brothers John and William Ormsby arrived in Sacramento in 1849 and began coining five and ten-dollar gold pieces from unrefined, native ore. They were the first private gold coiner in Sacramento, the largest trade center near the gold fields. These were struck by sledgehammer rather than a coining press. Their issues proved to be overvalued and were largely discredited, most succumbing to the melting pot within a year or two of minting. Surviving examples are exceedingly rare, the Guide Book lists 4 known while we have traced a total of 5, two of which are impounded, making this the finest of just 3 extant. PCGS graded AU-50.
Ex: Smith, Brand, Milas.
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