2003

1851 Augustus Humbert $50. Kagin-4. 887 THOUS. 50 Reverse. Octagonal. Lettered Edge. Rarity-5+. AU-5

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Collections Start Price:35,000.00 USD Estimated At:100,000.00 - 167,500.00 USD
1851 Augustus Humbert $50. Kagin-4. 887 THOUS. 50 Reverse. Octagonal. Lettered Edge. Rarity-5+. AU-5
SOLD
70,000.00USDto s******d+ buyer's premium (12,250.00)
This item SOLD at 2017 Sep 16 @ 08:41UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Satiny yellow-gold and boldly lustrous throughout, this impressive “slug” has descended through the decades with its physical well-being intact and with its eye appeal assured. The strike is fairly bold at the eagle, but light, as usual, at the top of the shield, the coin’s highest point. A few light marks are all that appear to the unaided eye, and a glass produces nothing more than some light circulation hairlines.
Clearly the fact that the minting process was so laborious with these lettered edge coins, explains while in spite of the latest minting equipment of the time, the early U.S. Assay Office was not able to produce anywhere close to the quantities struck later in the year when they ceased punching the edges. Since fewer than 150 of all varieties of Letter Edge slugs are known today, they are many times rarer than their reeded edge cousins.
The PCGS population guide reports none know in Mint State examples of the variety but clearly this is an error as we have seen several. Nevertheless this is a high end specimen that is probably Condition Census. Be prepared because bidding will prove to be active – and exciting -- right up to hammer time!
Ex: Kagin, Clifford Collections.
PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (AU-58 finest).
PCGS # 10205