1852 Wass, Molitor & Co. Large Head Gold Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$145,220 AU58 06-01-1998 Kingswood Galleries

Description

The 1852 Wass, Molitor & Company ten-dollar eagle with the Large Head variety features a prominent Liberty portrait that fills more of the obverse die field. Like the five-dollar denomination, the Wass, Molitor eagles exist in both Large Head and Small Head varieties, reflecting different die preparations during the 1852 production period. The Large Head eagle is typically the more commonly encountered of the two head-size varieties for this denomination. The bolder portrait treatment was preferred by the die engravers for the larger planchet, where the expanded Liberty head created a more visually balanced design. The 1852 date represents the first year of Wass, Molitor’s coining operations. The firm’s decision to enter the coinage business was driven by the same market opportunity that had motivated Moffat, Humbert, and others: the desperate shortage of reliable coined money in Gold Rush California.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The Large Head eagle is more available than the Small Head version. Approximately 75-120 examples survive.

Cross References

PCGS #10348; NGC #31092; Wass, Molitor & Co., San Francisco; Large Head variety