1851 Augustus Humbert $50. Reeded Edge. K-5. Rarity-5-. 880 THOUS., Target Reverse. MS-61 (NGC).This exciting piece displays lustrous warm yellow gold on both sides with delightful accents of soft coppery orange around the obverse devices. The surfaces as a whole are much smoother and wholesome than typically encountered. In short, the aesthetic appeal is just about as nice as ever seen for one of these large issues.pAmong the most evocative of all the Gold Rush issues, the huge octagonal $50 gold pieces nicknamed "slugs" have been favorites of numismatists for generations. Tokens and medals made in imitation of the iconic pieces have been produced throughout the twentieth century and even the ever-popular Panama-Pacific Exposition octagonal $50 commemoratives were based loosely on the slugs of the United States Assay Office of Gold. pHumberts $50 "slugs" are often seen with heavy nicks and edge bruises, as the soft metal would not withstand the hard use that it saw. It was commonplace to toss them into bags of gold in various forms, including bars, for transportation. Those surviving examples that do not show these imperfections have often been repaired in an attempt to "improve" their look over the years. The present specimen is a welcome exception in both regards. pA few minor marks are seen on the rims but there is only a single soft bump on one obverse corner worthy of specific mention. The reverse also shows a couple of light marks in the engine turned device, but none are serious. The piece has been well cared for and has seen no repair work. All considered, this is a superior example of this impressive and very popular territorial issue produced under the authority of Augustus Humbert, the United States assayer at San Francisco, whose personal collection of coins was sold in 1901 by the Chapman Brothers.
