ND Augustus Humbert Fifty Dollar - 185- "887" Inverted Augustus

Coin Details

Description

This undated Augustus Humbert fifty-dollar slug with 887 fineness and the remarkable “AUGUSTUS” inverted error is one of the most intriguing varieties in the entire territorial gold series. The inverted name error occurred during die preparation, when the AUGUSTUS punch was applied upside-down relative to the rest of the inscription. The piece is classified as undated (ND) with a partial date of 185-, indicating that the final digit is either illegible or was never fully engraved. The 887 fineness and design elements are consistent with 1851 or 1852 production. The “50” denomination numeral appears on the reverse. Minting errors on territorial gold coins are exceedingly rare, as the small production runs and hands-on manufacturing meant that quality control was generally effective at catching obvious mistakes. The survival of pieces with the inverted AUGUSTUS indicates either that the error went unnoticed or was considered acceptable given the urgency of coin production.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. The inverted AUGUSTUS variety is known in only a handful of examples.

Cross References

NGC #31079; Augustus Humbert, U.S. Assay Office, San Francisco; inverted AUGUSTUS error variety