1852年50美元八角金币 NGC AU 58
1852 United States Assay Office of Gold $50. K-13. Rarity-5. 887 THOUS. AU-58 (NGC). This is an exceptionally well preserved and very attractive survivor of a scarce and conditionally challenging California Gold Rush issue. Vivid medium gold surfaces reveal a tinge of pale olive under a light. Boldly to sharply defined apart from a touch of softness to the central obverse high point, the peripheral inscription on that side is fully legible and the date is clear. Lustrous with a satin to modestly semi-prooflike finish. There are no individually mentionable marks, and the rims are quite smooth for a type that is usually encountered with significant edge problems.<p>The earliest of the $50 pieces were produced in 1851 under Augustus Humberts name at a non-federal .880 fine standard, which quickly rose to .887 fine. In 1852, Humberts name was entirely removed and the slugs were then struck under the name of the United States Assay Office of Gold, but still at the same .887 standard. Things proceeded well for the Assay Office and even smaller denomination coins were struck. An unexpected blow came in the form of legislation passed in August 1852 that suddenly forbade the Customs Office from accepting any gold coin not struck at the federally-mandated .900 purity. This legislation resulted in the replacement of the 887 THOUS. pieces with the K-14 900 THOUS. type, Kagin-13 as represented here.<p>Today, perhaps a few hundred of these $50 gold "slugs" of all types are extant, most of which are well worn and also impaired due to cleaning, edge and/or surface damage. Problem-free, aesthetically appealing Choice AU examples, as here, are exceedingly rare and enthusiastically sought after as ideal examples of a classic design.<p>
