1854 Octagonal $1. BG-534. Rarity-6+. Liberty Head, "Humbert" Eagle Reverse. AU-55 (PCGS). This handsome piece is bathed in rich honey-rose color. Striking detail is pleasingly bold for the type, the obverse portrait well detailed and the eagle on the reverse sufficiently sharp to allow full appreciation of that particularly important design element. Free of troublesome marks and pleasingly smooth in hand, there is much to recommend this coin to the advanced specialist in this series.<p>The BG-534 is another of the popular "Humbert" eagle reverse varieties, as a group among the most desirable of all California Small Denomination gold issues. From Bob Leonards "Unknown Maker B," possibly Auguste Dubois as suggested by Leonard; he refers to this variety as a "Local imitation of BG-504, by the maker of the round half dollar BG-436." Rare, attractive, and sure to see spirited bidding. From the Oregon Collection. Earlier from Heritages Long Beach Signature Auction of February 2012, lot 5108; Heritages CSNS Signature Auction of April 2012, lot 6975.
