1851 "880" $50 LE Augustus Humbert, No "50" MS(PCGS#10196)

1851 "880" $50 LE Augustus Humbert, No "50" MS (PCGS#10196)

The March 2012 Baltimore Auction

详细说明: 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold. Lettered Edge. K-2. Rarity-5. 50 D C, 880 THOUS, No 50 on Reverse. AU-55 (PCGS). A splendid coin that boasts nearly full radiant luster, blazing orange-yellow gold surfaces and strong eye appeal. The strike is sharp throughout, particularly on the eagle's wings and the exquisite engine turned reverse design. Minor nicks and bumps are present, including a few of the corners which show comparatively minor marks as these huge coins are often found with heavy dents on the corners as their shear mass and life's inevitable events tend to render these octagonal edges impacted. Such stellar quality is a feast for the numismatic eye and this prized relic of our famed Gold Rush era is seldom offered in such wholesome condition as well as technically high grade. Close scrutiny finds scattered small nicks from handling, but these are trivial by comparison to the degree of handling usually encountered on these prized $50 pieces.      Augustus Humbert arrived in San Francisco on January 30, 1851 and coinage began the next day as reported in Pacific News which carried a line drawing of his new $50 pieces. The base of the obverse contained a capital D and C for dollars and cents, to be filled in by the coiner. These $50 coins formed the backbone of commercial commerce for the first five years of the Gold Rush and memorialize this important moment in history.