Watch List notes:

USA (San Francisco Assay Office), gold $10, 1852, NGC AU 58. K-12a, R.4. Prior to the San Francisco Mint opening in 1854, the government sought to provide some official coinage out west in the midst of the California Gold Rush. A newly formed United States Assay Office of Gold, managed by Joseph R. Curtis, Philo H. Perry, and Samuel H. Ward, all formerly of Moffat & Co., proved to be the solution. They, along with Augustus Humbert as United States Assayer, promptly got to work. California gold was reconstituted into $10 and $20 gold pieces in 1852 and 1853; $50 slugs were struck in 1852 exclusively. In late 1853, with the San Francisco Mint opening soon, the United States Assay Office shut down. This piece, a relic of the California Gold Rush, shows the lightest of handling on the high points with lustrous fields covered in abundantly rich toned gold. CPG value (in AU 58): $13,800.


Estimate: 5000 - 7500 USD