3087

Famous "Arms of California" Type

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Famous  Arms of California  Type
SOLD
2,200.00USD+ (440.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 11 @ 21:50UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
Lot: 3087
Year: 1853
Denom: 50C
Title: Famous "Arms of California" Type
Description: 1853 round Half Dollar, BG-435, Arms of California. PCGS Genuine, Mount Removed – XF Detail. Arms of California, 13 tiny stars around, date below; eagle with shield, CALIFORNIA GOLD/ HALF DOLLAR around. Unique designs make this a key to any type set of small California gold. Maker unknown (“Unknown Maker A”). In the second edition of California Pioneer Fractional Gold this cataloger speculated that BG-435 might be the work of San Francisco manufacturing jewelers Braverman & Levy, who did business under this style from 1852 through 1881. George Ferdinand Albrecht Küner, engraver of the Great Seal of California (and also the dies for many of the larger private gold coins of California), worked in Braverman & Levy’s store from the spring of 1852 until the spring of 1854. While the dies for BG-435 are not his work, an impression of the seal he engraved may have been displayed in their show window and perhaps featured on their sign in 1853—a visual indication of the issuer. Merely rare, but brings far in excess of most rarer issues because of demand from type set collectors. Yellow gold, even wear from jewelry use, light toning at right of reverse. PCGS Genuine, Mount Removed, XF Detail, Arms of California William C. O’Connor (PCGS# 10471).
Low Estimate: 3500
High Estimate: 5000
Grading Co: PCGS
Gr: Genuine
Gr2: Mount Removed - XF Detail
OGH:
PCGS#: 10471
NGC#:
Cert#: 40625062
Pedigree/Collection: The William C. O'Connor Collection