Lot 4253
1850 Moffat & Co. (San
Francisco) $5 Gold, K-7, R-4, Small eagle. AU-53. On this variety,
the branch ends over the D of DOL. on the reverse, on the large eagle version,
it ends over the O of that word. Bright yellow gold luster and well preserved.
The reverse has a couple of small rim ticks, one over MV of SMV a some others
of insignificant size. Coppery hues near the lettering and devices, and quite
well struck. One of the early Territorial gold issues, and struck by the maker
of the famous 1849 ingots. From an old collection that was put away before the
advent of slabbing.
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.
Purchased from
Superior Stamp & Coin Company privately before 1987 as the flip shows the old
Wilshire Blvd. address.
Lot 4254
1852 U.S. Assay Office $50
Gold, 887 THOUS, K-11, R-5. VF-30. Bright yellow gold in color, with
surprisingly clean corners for one of these. This is the variety that states
Augustus Humbert United States Assayer of Gold California around the obverse
periphery. The reverse is the fine engine turned design. Fairly well struck,
with most of the eagle's feathers clear, and the usual expected wear on the
shield and rock below. Minor handling marks but far fewer than expected for the
grade on one of these huge, heavy gold coins, which often come just beat to
pieces. If you've been looking for a grand example of an Octagonal $50 slug,
then we recommend this one highly for your collecting enjoyment.
Estimated
Value $8,000-9,000.
Purchased from Superior Stamp & Coin Company
privately in 1985 and held in a collection since that time, and apparently
never certified.
Lot 4255
1852 Wass, Molitor & Co.
(San Francisco) $10 Gold. Large head. K-4, R-5. NGC graded MS-61.
One of the very finest graded of this rare coin! This is the finest seen by
NGC, and PCGS has graded just one above in MS-62. Struck from dies that were
shattered, with half a dozen cracks on the obverse and another half dozen or so
on the reverse! Identifiable by a small rim tick below TE of TEN on the
reverse. Examination will note die rust and areas of peripheral weakness,
caused no doubt by the sorry shape of the dies, but Liberty's head is fairly
sharp, and the reverse eagle too. Moderate handling marks on both sides, and
very difficult to find in grades even approaching mint state.
Estimated
Value $9,000-UP.
Lot 4256
1861 Clark, Gruber & Co.
(Denver, Colorado) $10 Gold, K-7, R-4. AU-50. Traces of luster in
the fields on this scarce coin, and free of problem handling marks or ticks. We
do note minor hairlines from circulation, but the devices are all boldly
struck, and the rims are without the usual bumps. One minor planchet flake is
located on the inside field between stars eleven and twelve. From an old
collection that was put away many years ago.
Estimated Value $5,000-6,000.
Purchased from Superior Stamp & Coin Company, privately, probably in the
early to mid 1980s as the address on the paper flip is 9301 Wilshire and
Superior moved from there in late 1986 to the current location on Olympic
Boulevard.
Lot 4257
1861 Clark, Gruber & Co.
(Denver, Colorado) $10 Gold, K-7, R-4. EF-40. A second scarce
example of this territorial gold coin. This one has clean surfaces but a bit
more wear than the AU example offered. Curiously, the strike on this example is
a touch weak on the lower reverse, whereas on the other coin, it showed a trace
of weakness on the eagle's neck. Yellow gold with a few patches of coppery gold
toning on either side. Identifiable by a thin curved scratch up from Liberty's
nose to the sixth star above.
Estimated Value $3,000-3,500.
From
Superior Galleries sale of the Leo Hoffecker Collection, February 1987, lot
4603.
Lot 4258
1861 Clark, Gruber & Co.
(Denver, Colorado) $20 Gold, K-8, R-5+. VF-20. Nicer than the grade
would imply, this coin is well struck and retains most of the fine definition
from the dies with minor wear on the high points of the design elements. Toned
with coppery red hues on the cheek of Liberty and on the reverse eagle, perhaps
from many years of storage on a red felt pad for display or something similar.
Clean surfaces and rims, with no problem circulation marks on Liberty's face,
although we do note some bagmarks on her lower neck. A very nice coin for the
territorial collector to win.
Estimated Value $7,500-8,500.
No
provenance known, but likely purchased in the early 1980's with the balance of
these territorial pieces.