1852 Wass, Molitor & Co. Small Head Gold Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$36,000 AU53 01-16-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1852 Wass, Molitor & Company ten-dollar eagle with the Small Head variety features a more restrained Liberty portrait occupying a smaller proportion of the die field. The Small Head is generally scarcer than the Large Head version and is sought by variety collectors completing the full range of Wass, Molitor die combinations. The Small Head variety’s more delicate portrait treatment creates additional surrounding field space, giving the obverse a different aesthetic character. The stylistic differences between the head sizes reflect the hand-engraved nature of the dies, where each new die created by the firm’s engravers was inevitably unique. Wass, Molitor’s eagles competed directly with Humbert’s assay office eagles and the various other private gold coins circulating in early 1850s California. The firm’s reputation for consistent gold content helped their coins gain acceptance alongside more established private issues.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The Small Head eagle is scarcer than the Large Head. Approximately 40-70 examples survive.

Cross References

PCGS #10345; NGC #31148; Wass, Molitor & Co., San Francisco; Small Head variety