1851 California Gold $50 - "887" $50 LE Augustus Humbert "50" Reverse

Coin Details

Auction Record

$480,000 MS62+ 01-24-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1851 Humbert fifty-dollar piece combines the 887 fineness with a lettered edge and the numeral “50” on the reverse. This variety represents the most complete expression of the Humbert slug design, incorporating both the higher gold purity and the explicit denomination marking that merchants had requested. The addition of “50” to the reverse of the 887 fineness dies created yet another distinct die combination in the complex series. The reverse engine-turned pattern displays both 887 THOUS. And the prominent numeral 50, leaving no ambiguity about either the gold content or the face value. This dual marking system was unprecedented in American coinage and reflected the unique circumstances of California’s territorial gold economy, where both weight-based and denomination-based valuation systems coexisted. Collectors prize this variety for its completeness of design and its relative scarcity within the Humbert slug series. The combination of lettered edge, 887 fineness, and denomination numeral makes this the most information-dense of all the fifty-dollar varieties, carrying Humbert’s name, title, location, date, fineness, and denomination across its three surfaces.

Rarity Notes

Rare. This specific combination of 887 fineness, lettered edge, and 50 reverse is among the scarcer Humbert slug varieties. Approximately 40-60 examples survive.

Cross References

K-9 (Kagin); PCGS #10208; NGC #31082; Augustus Humbert, U.S. Assay Office, San Francisco