LOT #3251 |
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1851 $50 LE Humbert Fifty Dollar, Lettered Edge, 887 Thous., 50 Reverse, AU55 NGC. Kagin-4, R.5....
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Sold on Oct 11, 2018 for:
$96,000.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
Description
1851 Humbert Fifty Dollar, AU55
Scarce Lettered Edge Variant
887 Thous., 50 Reverse, K-4
1851 $50 LE Humbert Fifty Dollar, Lettered Edge, 887 Thous., 50
Reverse, AU55 NGC. Kagin-4, R.5. The lettered edge Humbert
fifty dollar gold ingots represent some of the earliest gold coins
struck by the U.S. Assay Office of Gold. Augustus Humbert brought
the dies -- designed by Charles Cushing Wright, who was the
contract engraver for the Philadelphia Mint -- to San Francisco
upon appointment as United States Assayer. Initial plans were for
octagonal pieces to be made in denominations of $50, $100, $200,
$500, and $1,000 by varying the thickness of the ingots. The $50
denomination was of greatest importance to the local economy and
for custom duties.The dies were incomplete by design, leaving room for legends, fineness, and value to be hand applied at the Assay Office. No fewer than 13 separate hand punches were required to finish a single $50 gold piece -- eight punches for the edge devices, plus three numeral punches for the 887 fineness, and two punches for the 50 dollar denomination. The labor-intensive process was simplified later in the year when a Reeded Edge variety replaced the Lettered Edge design. This About Uncirculated example displays traces of reddish-orange mint luster in protected areas. A few small strike-throughs on the wide obverse margins occurred during mintage. The engine-turned reverse shows the 50 denomination weakly struck at the center plus a few light abrasions and small rim nicks. All in all, this is a Choice example of the desirable Lettered Edge variant, seldom seen in finer grades. Census: 3 in 55, 17 finer (9/18).
From The Marcello Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# ANH5, PCGS# 10208, Greysheet# 11784)
View all of [The Marcello Collection ]
Auction Info
2018 October 11 - 14 US Coins Signature Auction - Chicago #1280 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
October, 2018
11th-14th
Thursday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 22
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,511
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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