312
|
Territorial
Gold/California Fractional
Gold
T
HE
P
OPULAR
1852 A
SSAY
O
FFICE
$50 G
OLD
2019
1852 U.S. Assay Office $50 Gold, 900 THOUS
.
PCGS graded Genuine, Edge/Rim Damage. Our grade is Sharpness of XF.
A pop-
ular coin. (
PCGS # 10019
)
Estimated Value ............................................................................................................................................................$16,000 - 17,000
1852 U.S. A
SSAY
O
FFICE
$10 G
OLD
2020
1852 U.S. Assay Office $10 Gold, 884 THOUS
.
NGC
graded AU-50
. Untoned with normal Territorial-style sur-
face abrasion from its use in commerce. Assay Office tens
read UNITED STATES ASSAY / OFFICE OF GOLD, produced
under the restructured firm with key figures Curtis, Perry,
and Ward after the departure of John L. Moffat. The former
ten dollar pieces made in 1851-52 are the same .884 fine-
ness, but the first two lines on the reverse read AUGUSTUS
HUMBERT / UNITED STATES ASSAYER.
One may wonder why, with such a meager amount of small
denomination coins in circulation, the State of California did
not resort to issuing paper money, as did the Mormons in
Utah. The California State Legislature wrote into its Consti-
tution that it would “prohibit by law any person or persons,
association, company, or corporation from creating paper to
circulate as money.”
Quite simply, it was not legal. State issues of paper cur-
rency were unconstitutional; private issues of paper cur-
rency were outlawed by the California state constitution.
But neither was private gold coining legal ñ at least it cer-
tainly was not authorized by the Federal Government.
Everyone just looked the other way because of the dire
need for a circulating medium during the California Gold
Rush. (
PCGS # 10001
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $6,000 - 6,500
C
ALIFORNIA
F
RACTIONAL
G
OLD
2021
1874. Round Indian Gold 25¢. BG-876, Low Rarity 4
.
NGC graded MS-63
. Reflective surfaces on this handsome
prooflike specimen, with boldly struck Indian profile, the stars
arranged 5+7. A crude date below. 1/4 DOL CAL reverse in a
large wreath.
Pop 3; 3 finer, 1 in 64, 2 in 65.
Estimated Value ................................................... $200 - 225
2022
1854 Quarter Dollar Octagonal Liberty. BG-105 Rarity 3
.
PCGS graded MS-64
. An attractive example. On this Period
One variety, Liberty is encircled with five 5-pointed stars. On the
reverse, DOLLARS is offset to the left.
Pop 71; 26 finer, 21 in
65, 5 in 66
. (
PCGS # 10374
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $300 - 350
2023
1856 Quarter Dollar Round Liberty. BG-229 Rarity 4
.
PCGS graded MS-64
. Nicely toned to a warm golden hue. An
attractively proportioned Quarter from this Period One issuer,
the obverse features a nicely centered Liberty head within ring
of stars. Noted for the repunching on R of DOLLAR where the
letter was first punched too high, then corrected.
Pop 11; 2
finer in 65
. (
PCGS # 10414
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $225 - 250
2024
1852 Half Dollar Round Liberty. BG-407 Rarity 4
.
PCGS
graded AU-55
. Light gold toning.
Pop 10; 76 finer
. (
PCGS
# 10443
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $200 - 225
2025
1853 Half Dollar Round Liberty. BG-428 Rarity 3
.
PCGS
graded AU-58
. Light gold toning. (
PCGS # 10464
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $200 - 225
2026
1855 Dollar Octagonal Liberty. BG-533 Low Rarity 4
.
PCGS graded EF-45
. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Lightly
toned with semi prooflike surfaces. This issue is by A. L. Nouizil-
let & Routhier (1854-56) and is part of the Period One circulat-
ing issues. Large Liberty head, repolished so that the wreath
reverse is thin between the leaves with multi-dot ornaments
providing space fillers between below at either side of the
wreath. CALIFORNIA GOLD N. R. with 1 DOLLAR 1855 inside
the wreath. A very scarce Dollar denomination issue. (
PCGS #
10510
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $500 - 550
2027
1880 Quarter Dollar Octagonal Indian. BG-799X Rarity
3
.
PCGS graded MS-64
. Warm golden toning with prooflike
surfaces. On this variety the stars are arranged 5 + 8 with stars
6 and 13 touching the device. From an unknown maker, this is
grouped with others having a so-called "Aztec head", CAL
reverse and the letter A punch having a flat top.
Pop 68; 20
finer, 19 in 65, 1 in 66
. (
PCGS # 10650
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $300 - 350
