1852 California Gold $50 - "900" $50 U.S. Assay Office

Coin Details

Auction Record

$411,250 MS64 04-23-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1852 U.S. Assay Office fifty-dollar piece with 900 fineness represents a significant milestone: the achievement of the full federal gold standard. The transition from 880 to 887 to 900 fine across the Humbert and Assay Office series documents the progressive improvement of California’s gold refining capabilities. At 900 fine, this issue matched the gold purity of federal coinage produced at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Charlotte mints. This equivalence was important both commercially and politically, as it demonstrated that California could produce coinage meeting national standards without requiring a full federal mint. The 900 fineness fifty-dollar slug is among the final octagonal issues, produced as the Assay Office prepared to transition entirely to conventional round denominations. The achievement of federal-standard fineness removed one of the last arguments against accepting territorial gold at full face value.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. The 900 fineness variety is scarcer than the 887 version. Approximately 20-35 examples survive.

Cross References

PCGS #10019; NGC #31104; U.S. Assay Office of Gold, San Francisco; 900 fineness