1851 $50 LE Humbert Fifty Dollar, Lettered Edge, 887 Thous., 50 Reverse, AU58 PCGS. CAC. K-4, R.5....

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1851 Humbert Fifty Dollar, Lettered Edge
887 Thous., 50 Reverse, K-4, AU58

1851 $50 LE Humbert Fifty Dollar, Lettered Edge, 887 Thous., 50 Reverse, AU58 PCGS. CAC. K-4, R.5. Ex: Liberty Collection. In its early days, the United States Assay Office combined the coinage operations of Moffat & Co. and the powers vested in New York watch-case maker Augustus Humbert, who was recently appointed as United States Assayer of Gold for California. The Assay Office was a precursor to the San Francisco Mint, but that situation proved a mixed blessing. Its fifty dollar octagonal "slugs" were produced in quantity and provided a semblance of official imprimatur to the new made-in-California money. On the other hand, various smaller-denomination gold coins by private issuers already had been in circulation, and Humbert's discrediting assays -- distributed far and wide by James King of William -- led to a ban on such coins by the California Legislature and disrupted commerce.
     The early Humbert fifty dollar issues include the now-famous octagonal format, initially manufactured with lettering around their edges: AUGUSTUS / HUMBERT / UNITED / STATES / ASSAYER / OF GOLD, / CALIFORNIA / 1851. The imprints were accomplished by individual line punches as well as single letter and numeral punches for the denomination and the 887 fineness. This example has the denomination both on the obverse and the reverse, on the latter side as a simple 50 in the middle.
     Deep orange-gold surfaces are indicative of the oldtime patina gracing the coin's 887-fine gold composition. While this near-Mint example has a few minor corner bumps and rim abrasions, the luster is broad and inviting with tiny prooflike pools within the lettering. The eye appeal seldom exceeded by even the dozen or so Uncirculated examples that exist. Donald Kagin reports a total of 60 Kagin-4 pieces survive in all grades combined.
     This pleasing example was once certified as MS60 by NGC and now resides in an AU58 PCGS holder with CAC endorsement. Listed among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins and on page 393 of the 2026 Guide Book.
Ex: The Liberty Collection / U.S. Coins Signature (Heritage, 8/2013), lot 5951.
Selections from The Black Cat Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# ANH5, PCGS# 10208, GSID# 11784)

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