1852 Moffat & Co., Close Date Gold Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$70,500 MS60 04-23-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1852 Moffat & Co. ten-dollar gold piece with the close date variety represents a late and transitional issue in the Moffat coinage story. By 1852, the landscape of California gold coinage had changed dramatically. Augustus Humbert had been operating as U.S. Assayer since early 1851, producing his famous octagonal fifty-dollar slugs, and the Moffat firm was increasingly working in coordination with the federal assay apparatus rather than independently. The close date designation refers to the spacing between the digits in the date 1852, which are positioned notably closer together than on other known die pairings. This variety is attributed through careful comparison of date punch positions and is recognized by both PCGS and NGC as a distinct collectible variety. The obverse and reverse otherwise follow the established Moffat eagle design, though by 1852 the dies show evidence of more refined workmanship compared to the hasty 1849 productions. This coin occupies a fascinating position in the transition from purely private to quasi-governmental coinage in California. Moffat’s name continued to appear on coins even as the firm increasingly operated under federal authority.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The 1852 Moffat eagle in any variety is considerably scarcer than the earlier half eagle denominations. The close date variety is the more available of the 1852 die marriages but remains a challenging coin to locate in any grade.

Cross References

K-7a (Kagin); PCGS #10252; NGC #31090; Moffat & Co., San Francisco; close date variety