1852 Territorial Gold, US Assay $10 Gold Piece PCGS AU-50 SS Central America

Here is a rare example from the days of the California Gold Rush to include in your collection. This piece would be perfect for the specialist in Territorial Gold coinage. Research tells us that there were 92 examples of the “TEN DOLS. 884 THOUS” $10 U.S. Assay Office eagles salvaged from the SS Central America.

According to the PCGS population report, PCGS has graded 3 as AU50 with 23 finer, including the SS Central America shipwreck examples. Collectors Universe gives this rare issue a price of $15,500 in AU50.

Augustus Humbert was a New York watchmaker who was appointed United States Assayer at an annual salary of $5,000. He reached San Francisco on January 30, 1851, carrying with him the dies for the famous $50 slugs that he brought from New York. They were produced by sculptor and medalist Charles C. Wright. Production of those coins began the day after he arrived.

It was on December 9, 1851 that Treasury Secretary Corwin had written to Humbert, permitting Moffat & Co. to strike $10 and $20 gold coins under the authority of the U. S. Assay Office in San Francisco. This letter was received by Humbert on January 10, 1852. It is quite likely that dies for $5, $10, and $20 gold coins prepared in 1851 were in the process of being changed to read '1852' in anticipation of a such an approving Treasury response. After some issues between Washington and San Francisco, on February 14, 1852, $10 U.S. Assay Office gold eagles were found in circulation in California.