1853 Assay 884 Gold Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$45,600 XF45 01-16-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1853 U.S. Assay Office ten-dollar eagle with 884 fineness represents the lower-purity version produced alongside the 900 fine coins in the final year of operations. The coexistence of 884 and 900 fineness coins indicates that multiple batches of refined gold were being processed simultaneously, with each batch struck at its actual assayed purity rather than being further refined to a uniform standard. This honest-fineness approach was characteristic of the Assay Office’s operations throughout its existence. Rather than over-refine gold to reach exactly 900 fine, the office produced coins at whatever fineness the refining process achieved and marked them accordingly, letting the marketplace adjust. The 884 fineness eagle is a distinct variety that collectors pursue alongside its 900 fineness counterpart. Together, the two varieties tell the story of the Assay Office’s practical approach to gold coinage in its final months of operation.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The 884 fineness eagle is scarcer than the 900 fineness version. Approximately 40-70 examples survive.

Cross References

PCGS #10004; NGC #31107; U.S. Assay Office of Gold, San Francisco; 884 fineness