1855 Proof California Gold $50 - $50 Kellogg & Co.

Coin Details

Auction Record

$763,750 PR64 04-23-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1855 proof Kellogg & Company fifty-dollar gold piece is one of the supreme rarities of American numismatics. The fifty-dollar denomination was the largest ever produced by Kellogg and matched the denomination of Humbert’s famous octagonal slugs. Only a tiny number of proof examples were struck, making this among the most sought-after California territorial gold coins. The proof finish reveals the full artistry of Albert Kuner’s design for the Kellogg fifty-dollar piece. The obverse features Liberty facing left, surrounded by stars and the date, while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with the Kellogg & Co. name. The larger canvas of the fifty-dollar planchet allowed Kuner to execute the design with greater detail and impact than on the twenty-dollar denomination. This proof fifty-dollar piece represents the pinnacle of California private gold coinage, combining the largest denomination, the finest production quality, and the rarest survival rate of any Kellogg issue.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Proof Kellogg fifty-dollar pieces are known in only a handful of examples. Among the most valuable California territorial gold coins.

Cross References

K-2 (Kagin); PCGS #10228; NGC #31165; Kellogg & Co., San Francisco; proof 0