1852 $10 California Gold Eagle - Augustus Humbert K-10b PCGS VF35 Ex.SS Central America w/Box & COA

This striking piece is a precious remnant of territorial gold from the California Gold Rush—plus it is a survivor of the tragic wreck of the SS Central America (SSCA). The exclusive PCGS Gold Foil label documents the SSCA pedigree.

There have been a total of 135 of the 1852 $10 California Gold Eagles graded by PCGS. However, in the rare K-10b variety, PCGS has only graded 3 examples. PCGS has graded 1 as XF40 with two finer, the finest being AU58. The number of examples of this rarity that were found among the wreckage of the SSCA is a substantial 67.

Gold miners panning for gold during the California Gold Rush. This offering from AUCM was minted with Gold Rush gold. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

On February 11, 1852, Moffat & Co. was authorized to mint $10 and $20 gold coins at the Assay Office, which was established as a temporary U.S. government mint before the establishment in 1854 of the San Francisco Mint. The Moffat business formally became, or at least was closely associated with, the U.S. Assay Office. 

Contemporary documents give the impression that Moffat & Co. and the U.S. Assay Office were one and the same, although assayer Augustus Humbert had specific duties independent of Moffat. Even though the coins produced circulated extensively as money, they were called "ingots" for either legal or bureaucratic purposes.